Values Orientation Towards Intention to Sustain in Environmental Volunteering: Views from University Students

Abstract

Determining the factors influencing environmental volunteering provide valuable input on how to retain and sustain environmental volunteerism among students. Previous research shows that volunteerism is attributed to many factors, such as motivation for personal development, social norms, well-being, and the environment. However, there is a lack of research on the value orientation of environmental volunteering, specifically environmental values and intentions linked to environmental volunteering behaviour. Comparing values orientation in environmental volunteering between genders can provide comprehensive guidelines for the intervention strategy to foster environmental volunteering participation among students. Therefore, this study examined university students' values orientation and intention to sustain their participation in environmental volunteering. There are four (4) subconstructs for values orientation, i.e., egoistic, biospheric, altruistic, and religious values. Random sampling was used, and a survey was conducted among 356 university students with experience in environmental volunteering. Descriptive analysis was employed to analyse the level of values orientation and intention to sustain their involvement in environmental volunteering. The t-test was conducted to determine the differences in levels of values orientation and intention to sustain environmental volunteering based on gender. The results indicate that values orientation and intention among the respondents are high, and there is a significant difference in biospheric values orientation based on gender. Thus, this research makes a valuable contribution in understanding issues affecting University students’ participation in environmental volunteering. This study highlights the role of tertiary level environmental education in promoting environmental volunteering among students, as a part of the environmental conservation effort and to maximize students’ individual growth.