The Relationship between Connectedness with Nature and Pro-environmental Behavior: the Mediating Role of Empathy with Nature and the Regulating Role of Relative Value Orientation

Based on the integrated model of emotion and ration on pro-environmental behavior, the current study is conducted in order to deeply understand the intrinsic influential mechanism of connectedness with nature (CN) to pro-environmental behavior (PEB), within which we assume that empathy with nature (EN) plays as a mediator and relative value orientation (RVO) plays as a moderator. The variables were measured through online questionnaires (n = 226, male = 124). Results showed that CN positively predicted pro-environment intention, EN played a mediating role, and RVO regulated the impact of CN on EN. Compared with individuals who prefer money, individuals preferred environmental have a smaller difference on pro-environmental intention between high and low CNs. However, neither CN nor EN has a significant correlation with environmental decision-making. Our research provides a new proof for the integrated model of emotion and ration on PEB, offering empirical evidence to the gap between intention and behavior found in pro-environmental researches. The findings of this study can also provide recommendations for environmental protection awareness-raising efforts, and follow-up research needs to further explore the differences between the influence of pro-environment intentions and behaviors.