Consideration of environmental factors in reflections on car purchases: Attitudinal, behavioural and sociodemographic predictors among a large UK sample
Chng, White, Abraham, Skippon, 2019, in Journal of Cleaner Production
doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.179
Location |
United Kingdom |
Population |
General |
Sample size |
21992 |
Factor analysis type |
principal components, varimax rotation |
Stepwise regression |
no |
Removal of insignificant variables |
no |
Reviewed by |
LCM |
Abstract
Encouraging the purchase of low-emission vehicles could reduce the environmental impact of growing global car ownership. To date, however, there is relatively little research into the degree to which environmental features, such as reduced CO2 emissions, are considered important when reflecting on car purchase decisions using large representative samples. This issue was explored using data from wave four (2013/14) of the UK Household Longitudinal Study, weighted to be representative of the UK population (N = 12,895). Principal components analysis identified three types of considerations during car purchase reflections: Utilitarian, Image-conscious and Environmental. Logistic and Ordinary Least Squares regressions identified attitudinal, behavioural and sociodemographic predictors of reporting environmental considerations during car purchase. Consideration of environmental factors during reflections on car purchases was more likely among those with higher climate change concerns and topic engagement, as well as self-reported pro-environmental behaviours more generally. Environmental considerations were also higher amongst women, older adults, non-white ethnic groups, urban residents and among individuals in Scotland (vs. London). Contrary to previous findings, richer and more educated respondents were less likely to consider environmental factors, with income positively related to image factors such as brand. Although our findings offer some support for the pro-environmental attitude–behaviour consistency hypothesis, they also highlight key non-attitudinal, sociodemographic factors underlying car purchase reflections that may help social-marketers and policy makers identify key audiences to more effectively promote low-emission vehicle purchases. © 2019
Factors
Models
Dependent variable |
Reporting environmental considerations during car purchase |
Model type |
Multivariate logistic regression |
Sample size |
12895.0 |
R2 |
nan |
Adjusted R2 |
|
Pseudo R2
(nan)
|
nan |
AIC |
nan |
BIC |
nan |
Log-likelihood at zero |
nan |
Log-likelihood at constants |
nan |
Log-likelihood at convergence |
nan |
Variable |
Odds_ratio |
p-value |
Climate change concern |
1.12
|
0.003 |
Climate change engagement |
1.09
|
0.0 |
Climate change detachment |
0.96
|
0.0 |
Turn TV off standby |
1.04
|
0.001 |
Switch off lights |
1.09
|
0.001 |
Water conservation |
1.07
|
0.0 |
Use less heating |
0.99
|
0.576 |
Buy less packaging |
1.09
|
0.001 |
Buy recycled paper products |
1.08
|
0.0 |
Bring own shopping bags |
1.08
|
0.0 |
Using public transport |
1.04
|
0.11 |
Walk/cycle short journeys |
1.02
|
0.323 |
Car share |
1.07
|
0.002 |
Fewer flights |
1.07
|
0.005 |
Male |
1.0
|
nan |
Female |
1.4
|
0.0 |
Age 16-25 |
1.0
|
nan |
Age 26-35 |
1.12
|
0.315 |
Age 36-45 |
1.26
|
0.037 |
Age 46-55 |
1.58
|
0.0 |
Age 56-65 |
1.58
|
0.0 |
Age 66-75 |
1.6
|
0.001 |
Age over 75 |
1.72
|
0.001 |
White |
1.0
|
nan |
White mixed or Black/African/Caribbean/Black British |
1.86
|
0.0 |
Asia/Asian British |
1.77
|
0.0 |
Arab or any other ethnic group |
1.44
|
0.139 |
1 (lowest) household income |
1.0
|
nan |
2 household income |
0.93
|
0.42 |
3 household income |
0.99
|
0.905 |
4 household income |
0.92
|
0.315 |
5 (highest) household income |
0.84
|
0.032 |
Employed |
1.0
|
nan |
Unemployed |
1.04
|
0.732 |
Retired |
1.08
|
0.365 |
In education |
1.11
|
0.601 |
Family carer |
0.88
|
0.258 |
No qualification |
1.0
|
nan |
Other |
0.94
|
0.554 |
GCSE etc. |
0.83
|
0.043 |
A levels |
0.89
|
0.187 |
Other higher cert. |
0.87
|
0.158 |
Degree |
0.9
|
0.257 |
Longstanding illness or disability: yes |
1.0
|
nan |
Longstanding illness or disability: no |
1.0
|
1.0 |
1 car in household |
1.0
|
nan |
2 cars in household |
0.89
|
0.023 |
3 or more cars in household |
0.79
|
0.002 |
0 children under 14 in household |
1.0
|
nan |
1 child under 14 in household |
0.86
|
0.09 |
2 children under 14 in household |
0.86
|
0.112 |
3 or more children under 14 in household |
0.49
|
0.0 |
Rural |
1.0
|
nan |
Urban |
1.2
|
0.0 |
London |
1.0
|
nan |
North East |
1.45
|
0.011 |
North West |
1.27
|
0.026 |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
1.33
|
0.014 |
East Midlands |
1.35
|
0.009 |
West Midlands |
1.22
|
0.071 |
East of England |
1.32
|
0.011 |
South East |
1.3
|
0.009 |
South West |
1.31
|
0.013 |
Wales |
1.1
|
0.425 |
Scotland |
1.51
|
0.0 |
Northern Ireland |
1.22
|
0.108 |
Dependent variable |
Frequency of environmental considerations |
Model type |
Multivariate linear regression |
Sample size |
12895.0 |
R2 |
nan |
Adjusted R2 |
|
Pseudo R2
(nan)
|
nan |
AIC |
nan |
BIC |
nan |
Log-likelihood at zero |
nan |
Log-likelihood at constants |
nan |
Log-likelihood at convergence |
nan |
Variable |
Coefficient |
p-value |
Climate change concern |
0.03
|
0.019 |
Climate change engagement |
0.03
|
0.0 |
Climate change detachment |
-0.01
|
0.0 |
Turn TV off standby |
0.01
|
0.05 |
Switch off lights |
0.03
|
0.0 |
Water conservation |
0.02
|
0.0 |
Use less heating |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Buy less packaging |
0.03
|
0.003 |
Buy recycled paper products |
0.03
|
0.0 |
Bring own shopping bags |
0.02
|
0.0 |
Using public transport |
0.01
|
0.327 |
Walk/cycle short journeys |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Car share |
0.02
|
0.009 |
Fewer flights |
0.02
|
0.009 |
Male |
0.0
|
nan |
Female |
0.12
|
0.0 |
Age 16-25 |
0.0
|
nan |
Age 26-35 |
0.04
|
0.228 |
Age 36-45 |
0.08
|
0.016 |
Age 46-55 |
0.15
|
0.0 |
Age 56-65 |
0.17
|
0.0 |
Age 66-75 |
0.17
|
0.0 |
Age over 75 |
0.23
|
0.0 |
White |
0.0
|
nan |
White mixed or Black/African/Caribbean/Black British |
0.21
|
0.0 |
Asia/Asian British |
0.25
|
0.0 |
Arab or any other ethnic group |
0.19
|
0.039 |
1 (lowest) household income |
0.0
|
nan |
2 household income |
-0.03
|
0.285 |
3 household income |
-0.03
|
0.285 |
4 household income |
-0.05
|
0.075 |
5 (highest) household income |
-0.08
|
0.004 |
Employed |
0.0
|
nan |
Unemployed |
0.01
|
0.794 |
Retired |
0.03
|
0.285 |
In education |
0.02
|
0.744 |
Family carer |
-0.07
|
0.05 |
No qualification |
0.0
|
nan |
Other |
0.0
|
1.0 |
GCSE etc. |
-0.05
|
0.102 |
A levels |
-0.02
|
0.514 |
Other higher cert. |
-0.03
|
0.366 |
Degree |
-0.04
|
0.191 |
Longstanding illness or disability: yes |
0.0
|
nan |
Longstanding illness or disability: no |
-0.01
|
0.575 |
1 car in household |
0.0
|
nan |
2 cars in household |
-0.05
|
0.001 |
3 or more cars in household |
-0.07
|
0.006 |
0 children under 14 in household |
0.0
|
nan |
1 child under 14 in household |
-0.06
|
0.033 |
2 children under 14 in household |
-0.06
|
0.05 |
3 or more children under 14 in household |
-0.22
|
0.0 |
Rural |
0.0
|
nan |
Urban |
0.06
|
0.001 |
London |
0.0
|
nan |
North East |
0.1
|
0.029 |
North West |
0.08
|
0.025 |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
0.09
|
0.019 |
East Midlands |
0.11
|
0.004 |
West Midlands |
0.07
|
0.067 |
East of England |
0.09
|
0.012 |
South East |
0.1
|
0.003 |
South West |
0.08
|
0.025 |
Wales |
0.02
|
0.601 |
Scotland |
0.15
|
0.0 |
Northern Ireland |
0.07
|
0.086 |
Dependent variable |
Ratio of environmental considerations to total considerations |
Model type |
Multivariate linear regression |
Sample size |
12895.0 |
R2 |
nan |
Adjusted R2 |
|
Pseudo R2
(nan)
|
nan |
AIC |
nan |
BIC |
nan |
Log-likelihood at zero |
nan |
Log-likelihood at constants |
nan |
Log-likelihood at convergence |
nan |
Variable |
Coefficient |
p-value |
Climate change concern |
0.01
|
0.0 |
Climate change engagement |
0.01
|
0.0 |
Climate change detachment |
-0.0
|
1.0 |
Turn TV off standby |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Switch off lights |
0.01
|
0.0 |
Water conservation |
0.01
|
0.0 |
Use less heating |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Buy less packaging |
0.01
|
0.0 |
Buy recycled paper products |
0.01
|
0.0 |
Bring own shopping bags |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Using public transport |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Walk/cycle short journeys |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Car share |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Fewer flights |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Male |
0.0
|
nan |
Female |
0.03
|
0.0 |
Age 16-25 |
0.0
|
nan |
Age 26-35 |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Age 36-45 |
0.01
|
0.191 |
Age 46-55 |
0.03
|
0.003 |
Age 56-65 |
0.03
|
0.0 |
Age 66-75 |
0.04
|
0.0 |
Age over 75 |
0.06
|
0.0 |
White |
0.0
|
nan |
White mixed or Black/African/Caribbean/Black British |
0.04
|
0.002 |
Asia/Asian British |
0.06
|
0.0 |
Arab or any other ethnic group |
0.05
|
0.05 |
1 (lowest) household income |
0.0
|
nan |
2 household income |
-0.01
|
0.191 |
3 household income |
-0.01
|
0.191 |
4 household income |
-0.02
|
0.009 |
5 (highest) household income |
-0.02
|
0.009 |
Employed |
0.0
|
nan |
Unemployed |
0.0
|
1.0 |
Retired |
0.0
|
1.0 |
In education |
0.01
|
0.575 |
Family carer |
-0.02
|
0.009 |
No qualification |
0.0
|
nan |
Other |
-0.01
|
0.191 |
GCSE etc. |
-0.03
|
0.003 |
A levels |
-0.03
|
0.0 |
Other higher cert. |
-0.03
|
1.0 |
Degree |
-0.03
|
0.0 |
Longstanding illness or disability: yes |
0.0
|
nan |
Longstanding illness or disability: no |
-0.0
|
1.0 |
1 car in household |
0.0
|
nan |
2 cars in household |
-0.01
|
0.05 |
3 or more cars in household |
-0.02
|
0.0 |
0 children under 14 in household |
0.0
|
nan |
1 child under 14 in household |
-0.01
|
0.191 |
2 children under 14 in household |
-0.02
|
0.009 |
3 or more children under 14 in household |
-0.05
|
0.0 |
Rural |
0.0
|
nan |
Urban |
0.02
|
0.0 |
London |
0.0
|
nan |
North East |
0.02
|
0.05 |
North West |
0.01
|
0.327 |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
0.02
|
0.05 |
East Midlands |
0.01
|
0.327 |
West Midlands |
0.01
|
0.327 |
East of England |
0.02
|
0.009 |
South East |
0.01
|
0.191 |
South West |
0.01
|
0.191 |
Wales |
0.01
|
0.327 |
Scotland |
0.03
|
0.0 |
Northern Ireland |
0.01
|
0.327 |