The Public Sphere (Virtual and Non-Virtual) and Responsible Environmental Behaviors of Citizens (A Study among Citizens Over 18 Years Old in Tehran)

Abstract

Purpose: With the spread of environmental issues attention to the responsible environmental behavior of citizens to reduce environmental pollution it has become very important. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explain the relationship between the public sphere (virtual and non-virtual) and responsible environmental behaviors of citizens. Methodology: The present research method was a quantitative from type of survey. The research population was all the citizens over 18 years old of Tehran city in 2021 year with the number of 6348162 people, which the sample size based on the Cochran's formula was determined 384 people, and in this study due to possible dropouts 400 people were selected as a sample. The samples of this research were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method and responded to demographic information form and researcher-made questionnaires of virtual and non-virtual public sphere (32 items) and responsible environmental behaviors (32 items). Data were analyzed with tests of Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression by stepwise method and analysis of variance in SPSS software. Findings: The findings showed that the virtual and non-virtual public sphere had a positive and significant relationship with responsible environmental behaviors of citizens (P<0.001). Also, the virtual and non-virtual public sphere significantly could predict 31% of changes of responsible environmental behaviors of citizens (P<0.001). In addition, there was no significant difference between responsible environmental behaviors of citizens in terms of the type of virtual network and marital status (P>0.05), but there was a significant difference in terms of education level (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated a significant relationship between virtual and non-virtual public spheres and responsible environmental behaviors of citizens. Therefore, in order to improve the responsible environmental behavior of citizens can be provided the ground for the improvement of the public sphere.