Psychosocial factors as determinants of littering prevention behavior

Abstract

This study investigated psychosocial factors as determinants of littering prevention behavior among residents of Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria. The independent variables are; personality traits, gender, Residential characteristics, Educational level, Age and Organizational factors while dependent variable is littering prevention behavior. Descriptive survey was utilized for research design and accidental sampling technique to collect data from a total of 601 participants. The sample comprised of 263(43.8%) males and 338(56.2%) female respondents. Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) was used to measure personality traits while Littering Prevention Behavior Scale (LPBS) was used to assess littering prevention behavior of respondents. The results revealed that there is significant positive relationship between littering prevention behavior and personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness) [R= (.260; P<.01), (R=.200; P<.01), R=(.144; P<.01), (R=.248; P<0.1), (R=168 P<.01). Also, female participants scored significantly higher on littering prevention behavior than males [t (599) =-3.429; p<.01). It further shows that personality factors predicted about % significant joint influence on littering prevention behavior {R= .327; R²=.107; F (5,595) =820.56; P<.05}. It was recommended that government should attract recycling companies to explore the country utilizing the rampant litters in our environs by monetizing the submission of litters to those companies to encourage the conformists; there should be public enlightenment on how to manage one's personality to prevent littering behavior also, government should engage law enforcement agents to implement specific policies guiding and restricting littering behaviors.