‘Take Back the Land’: Analysis of the influence of environmental concern, cultural tightness and moral disengagement on pro-environmental behaviour intentions

Our study found that individuals' environmental concerns are positively associated with their pro-environmental behavioural intentions through increased desired cultural tightness and reduced moral disengagement. Based on past research on (a) the positive association between personal concerns for ecological threats and desire for strong rules and punishment for violation (i.e., cultural tightness) and (b) the negative impact of moral disengagement on pro-environmental behavioural intention, we proposed that people who desire tightness for their environment are less likely to morally disengage from their pro-environmental intentions to act. The study relied on a cross-sectional design, with a sample of 2482 participants from Italy. Results from a serial mediation model confirmed our starting assumptions, showing that desired tightness and moral disengagement may represent crucial factors in the relationship between environmental concern and behavioural intentions to benefit the environment. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.