Fishing Participation Explained Through an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Natural Resource Management

Background:

• Environmental behavior is shaped by internal and external factors, but research rarely integrates these elements.
• The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is a key framework for understanding behavioral intentions.
• Recreational angling is a significant natural resource activity influenced by complex behavioral drivers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend the Theory of Planned Behavior by incorporating environmental identity and constraints.
• To explain behavioral intentions among recreational anglers.
• To provide a comprehensive perspective on factors influencing environmental behavior in natural resource contexts.

Main Methods:

• Developed an extended model integrating TPB with environmental identity and constraints.
• Surveyed recreational anglers to assess attitudes, perceived behavioral control, environmental identity, and intentions.
• Employed statistical analyses to determine the correlates of environmental behavior and intentions.

Main Results:

• Attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and environmental identity strongly correlated with environmental behavior.
• Constraints exhibited a weak, negative association with intentions to fish.
• Environmental identity decreased fishing intentions but increased positive fishing attitudes.

Conclusions:

• Environmental identity and attitudes are key drivers of environmental behavior in recreational angling.
• Constraints play a less significant role than anticipated in shaping fishing intentions.
• Findings inform environmental education and management strategies to enhance participation in fishing.