How education from children influences parents' green travel behavior? The mediating role of environmental protection commitment

The transmission of green ideas within families is no longer limited to the older generations instilling ideas into the younger generations. Younger generations are increasingly influencing the green travel behavior of older generations with their green ideas. This study was based on social learning...

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Main Authors: Tong Zhang, Feiyu Chen, Xiao Gu, Zhuohang Li, Zhexin Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1532152/full
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author Tong Zhang
Feiyu Chen
Xiao Gu
Zhuohang Li
Zhexin Zhu
author_facet Tong Zhang
Feiyu Chen
Xiao Gu
Zhuohang Li
Zhexin Zhu
author_sort Tong Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The transmission of green ideas within families is no longer limited to the older generations instilling ideas into the younger generations. Younger generations are increasingly influencing the green travel behavior of older generations with their green ideas. This study was based on social learning theory and reverse socialization theory and proposed the concept of “trans-education.” A theoretical model of green travel factors was constructed based on self-efficacy and environmental protection commitment (EPC) and its dimensions. By conducting a field experiment (N = 229) and administering a questionnaire survey across 31 provinces in China (N = 639), it has been found that: (1) Trans-education significantly contributes to residents' green travel behavior. This finding means transmitting green concepts from the younger to the older generation can positively influence green travel behavior. (2) Trans-education influences residents' green travel behavior through EPC and its dimensions. (3) Self-efficacy reduces the extent to which trans-education affects residents' green travel behavior. These findings offer new perspectives on the relationship between intergenerational transmission of green concepts within families and green travel behavior changes.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 1664-1078
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Psychology
spelling doaj-art-2249c08fa0d347e3b93f6173efa0d3de2025-08-20T02:29:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-04-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15321521532152How education from children influences parents' green travel behavior? The mediating role of environmental protection commitmentTong ZhangFeiyu ChenXiao GuZhuohang LiZhexin ZhuThe transmission of green ideas within families is no longer limited to the older generations instilling ideas into the younger generations. Younger generations are increasingly influencing the green travel behavior of older generations with their green ideas. This study was based on social learning theory and reverse socialization theory and proposed the concept of “trans-education.” A theoretical model of green travel factors was constructed based on self-efficacy and environmental protection commitment (EPC) and its dimensions. By conducting a field experiment (N = 229) and administering a questionnaire survey across 31 provinces in China (N = 639), it has been found that: (1) Trans-education significantly contributes to residents' green travel behavior. This finding means transmitting green concepts from the younger to the older generation can positively influence green travel behavior. (2) Trans-education influences residents' green travel behavior through EPC and its dimensions. (3) Self-efficacy reduces the extent to which trans-education affects residents' green travel behavior. These findings offer new perspectives on the relationship between intergenerational transmission of green concepts within families and green travel behavior changes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1532152/fullgreen travel behaviortrans-educationenvironmental protection commitmentself-efficacyreverse socialization
spellingShingle Tong Zhang
Feiyu Chen
Xiao Gu
Zhuohang Li
Zhexin Zhu
How education from children influences parents' green travel behavior? The mediating role of environmental protection commitment
Frontiers in Psychology
green travel behavior
trans-education
environmental protection commitment
self-efficacy
reverse socialization
title How education from children influences parents' green travel behavior? The mediating role of environmental protection commitment
title_full How education from children influences parents' green travel behavior? The mediating role of environmental protection commitment
title_fullStr How education from children influences parents' green travel behavior? The mediating role of environmental protection commitment
title_full_unstemmed How education from children influences parents' green travel behavior? The mediating role of environmental protection commitment
title_short How education from children influences parents' green travel behavior? The mediating role of environmental protection commitment
title_sort how education from children influences parents green travel behavior the mediating role of environmental protection commitment
topic green travel behavior
trans-education
environmental protection commitment
self-efficacy
reverse socialization
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1532152/full
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AT xiaogu howeducationfromchildreninfluencesparentsgreentravelbehaviorthemediatingroleofenvironmentalprotectioncommitment
AT zhuohangli howeducationfromchildreninfluencesparentsgreentravelbehaviorthemediatingroleofenvironmentalprotectioncommitment
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