Environmental behavior in three countries: The role of intergenerational transmission and domains of socialization

This paper focuses on intergenerational transmission of environmental behavior, i.e., the processes by which environmental behavior is negotiated and shaped within the family. We offer an analysis of two correlates of child environmental behavior: parental environmental behaviors (as intergenerational transmission) and socialization domains (parent-child interactions). Our interest lies in exploring these predictors cross-culturally, and we do so by using national samples of parent-child dyads in Israel, South Korea and the United States (N = 1653 dyads). Findings from OLS regressions suggest that all three realms of children's environmental behavior (sustainable lifestyle, reducing consumption, and reducing impact) have a positive and statistically significant association with the corresponding parental behaviors, but this association is weaker in Korea. Furthermore, socialization to environmental behavior through group participation or reciprocity is more likely to enhance children's environmental behavior, and this association is stronger in Korea.