Getting Active in the Gulf: Environmental Attitudes and Action Following Two Mississippi Coastal Disasters

A. Brooke Walters, Christopher Drescher, Brandy J. Baczwaski, Bethany J. Aiena, Marie C. Darden, Laura R. Johnson, Erin M. Buchanan, Stefan E. Schulenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current study examined the impact of the Gulf Oil Spill and Hurricane Katrina, environmental attitudes, and environmental action among residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The authors sought to determine if disaster impact, worry about the environment, or connection to nature was associated with environmental action following the oil spill and in general. We hypothesized that disaster impact and environmental attitudes would be significantly associated with environmental action. Surveys were administered to 1,108 individuals receiving mental health services in connection with the Gulf Oil Spill. Results indicated that disaster impact was correlated with environmental worry, connection to nature, and action. Additionally, environmental worry and connection to nature were significantly associated with action, as were the effects of Hurricane Katrina to a lesser degree. This study supplements the existing literature by examining environmental attitudes, disaster impact, and their association with environmental action following two disasters.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)919-936
Number of pages18
JournalSocial Indicators Research
Volume118
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2014

Keywords

  • Connection to nature
  • Disaster impact
  • Environmental action
  • Environmental worry
  • Gulf Oil Spill

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • General Social Sciences

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