The Eco-Generativity Scale (EGS): A New Resource to Protect the Environment and Promote Health

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Environmental issues pose significant risks to ecosystems and human well-being.
• The Eco-Generativity Scale (EGS) assesses ecological and social generativity, environmental identity, and agency.
• Understanding individuals' environmental perspectives is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the psychometric properties of the Eco-Generativity Scale (EGS) in an Italian university student population.
• To confirm the factor structure and reliability of the EGS.
• To assess the concurrent validity of the EGS with established psychological measures.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to evaluate the EGS's factor structure.
• Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega.
• Concurrent validity was examined by correlating EGS scores with the PANAS, SWLS, MLM, and FS.

Main Results:

• Exploratory factor analysis supported a four-factor structure for the EGS.
• Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a robust four-factor higher-order model with good internal consistency.
• The EGS demonstrated good concurrent validity with measures of affect, life satisfaction, meaning in life, and flourishing.

Conclusions:

• The Eco-Generativity Scale (EGS) exhibits strong psychometric properties for measuring eco-generativity.
• The EGS is a reliable and valid instrument for research and intervention purposes.
• This study supports the EGS's utility in understanding environmental attitudes among diverse populations.