A Study on the Relationship between Personality Traits and Pro- Environmental Behaviour among Young Adults

Abstract

Environmental degradation continues threatening global sustainability, making individual behaviour critical. Understanding what drives environmentally responsible actions among young adults becomes essential. This study explores how Big Five personality traits relate to Pro-Environmental Behaviour in undergraduate students. Using standardized self-report questionnaires, researchers collected data from 151 undergraduates aged 17 to 27 years. The cross-sectional correlational design measured Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Openness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Pro-Environmental Behaviour. Jamovi software enabled descriptive statistics and Pearson's product–moment correlation analysis. Three personality traits showed strong positive correlations with Pro-Environmental Behaviour. Conscientiousness correlated highest, followed by Agreeableness  and Openness. Students demonstrating responsibility, empathy, and receptiveness to new experiences engaged more frequently in environmentally responsible practices. Extraversion and Neuroticism revealed no significant relationships. These results illuminate how personality shapes environmental engagement. Responsible individuals follow through on sustainable actions. Empathetic students consider environmental impacts on others. Open-minded young adults embrace innovative eco-friendly practices. Individual differences in these traits explain varying levels of environmental commitment. The findings enable targeted interventions. Environmental education programs can adapt to personality profiles, maximizing effectiveness. Sustainability campaigns should emphasize responsibility, compassion, and intellectual curiosity. Designing personality-sensitive interventions could  substantially increase pro-environmental behaviour among young adults, advancing global sustainability goals through psychologically informed approaches