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What Psychology for a Sustainable Community?
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What Psychology for a Sustainable Community?

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 18500

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Manuela Tomai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: community psychology; health psychology; research intervention models; social support; psychosocial wellbeing; community-based organizations; health care services; chronic diseases; multidisciplinary teams
Dr. Viviana Langher

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: clinical and health psychology; models of intervention in clinical psychology; psychoanalysis; clinical psychology in social contexts; health care services; educational services; inclusive processes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Growing attention is being paid to global events having an impact on people's social lives. The close interconnection between social systems results in large-scale events and processes rapidly taking on a global dimension.

Migration flows, health emergencies, climate change and the scarcity of natural resources (just to mention some of the most current issues) determine the social and environmental balance consequences of the entire planet, subjecting specific social systems to strong stress tests and necessary adaptation efforts. This favors the emergence of shared feelings of uncertainty, concern, restlessness and behaviors of the extreme protection of oneself and one's microcosm. The contemporary social scenario appears to be characterized by marked individualism often bringing with it the denial of problems, deep distrust in institutions and disinvestment in collective processes.

Such impressive phenomena require the mobilization of collective feelings of belonging, collective responsibility, protection and safeguarding of communities, a profound awareness of the interdependence between social systems, recognition of the resources that communities hold within them and the consolidation and continuous preservation of social networks.

What factors and processes could implement changes urgently required of sustainable communities?

What role can psychology play? What contribution can it present?

Community psychology, together with clinical psychology, have been called to an imposing challenge, that is, to understand, in depth, the individualistic anomic culture, with anxious short-term visions, and to encourage development processes causing the sustainability of existence and the ability to invest in the long-term one of the first and most important key words. With this in mind, educational systems, support services and personal care, including health systems and formal and informal social networks, can be considered community pillars from which complex actions of cultural innovation can start.

We are interested in contributions of different kinds: literature reviews, narrative or systematic; experimental research; evaluations of interventions; qualitative and quantitative studies. The goal is to collect studies addressing these issues, both from a general perspective and in relation to specific domains.

Dr. Manuela Tomai
Dr. Viviana Langher
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • community
  • territory
  • participation
  • community development
  • formal and informal networks
  • social support
  • sense of belonging
  • sense of responsibility
  • educating community
  • healthcare
  • citizenship
  • sustainability
  • individualism
  • anomy
  • cultural innovation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 513 KiB  
Article
Promoting Climate Change Awareness with High School Students for a Sustainable Community
by Minou Ella Mebane, Maura Benedetti, Daniela Barni and Donata Francescato
Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11260; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411260 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 9401
Abstract
Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity, and understanding and addressing climate change represent important goals in creating a sustainable community. As several studies have underlined, in order to enhance eco-friendly behaviors, it is pivotal to understand people’s emotional reactions to climate [...] Read more.
Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity, and understanding and addressing climate change represent important goals in creating a sustainable community. As several studies have underlined, in order to enhance eco-friendly behaviors, it is pivotal to understand people’s emotional reactions to climate change and develop actions that build a planetary sense of community. In this context, the present pilot study aims to propose a new psychological environmental intervention program seeking to increase students’ awareness of climate change and related emotions and to promote students’ empowerment. It was carried out in Italy, from January to April 2022, involved 25 high school students, and was conducted by environmental scientists and community psychologists who were experts in affective education and empowerment. The program was composed of two different modules: the first module focused on sustainable development and climate change’s effects on the environment and health as well as positive and negative emotions related to climate change; and the second was a participatory laboratory on actions that can be taken to protect the environment. An assessment of the intervention showed its efficacy in terms of the students’ competences as environmental citizens, their comprehension of emotions related to climate change, and the development of climate change projects. Given the small sample size and the pre-experimental nature of our contribution, future studies on a larger scale and with a control group are needed to confirm our preliminary results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Psychology for a Sustainable Community?)
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18 pages, 744 KiB  
Article
How E-Government Can Help Societies during a Crisis: Implications of UTAUT Model in Lebanon
by Bassel El Hajj, Georgiana Karadas and Pouya Zargar
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5368; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065368 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1908
Abstract
Introduction: Information and communication technology (ICT) usage has grown rapidly, with a significant rise following the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assesses the relationships among task–technology fit, sense of virtual community, and the continuous intention to use electronic government services (e-government). [...] Read more.
Introduction: Information and communication technology (ICT) usage has grown rapidly, with a significant rise following the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assesses the relationships among task–technology fit, sense of virtual community, and the continuous intention to use electronic government services (e-government). Methods: Through quantitative approach using surveys, a total of 390 data was obtained from registered citizens in Tripoli municipality during the pandemic. The data were analyzed using partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results: The mediating role of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model was observed, which shows that task–technology fit, sense of virtual community, and the consideration of society and its development are essential factors for citizens to use ICTs. Systems should entail features that meet the needs of citizens, community-building elements, and satisfactory performance. The importance of e-government ICTs in community development, particularly in a fragile state such as Tripoli, Lebanon, is the highlight of the current results. This can be beneficial for governmental authorities in the region of the Middle East, helping them to increase communication effectiveness by implementing appropriate digital means for the public during a crisis. Community development is a highly effective aspect that governments can implement in their digital services to provide opportunities for learning, awareness, and social progress to the public. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Psychology for a Sustainable Community?)
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19 pages, 675 KiB  
Article
Longitudinal Predictors of Perceived Climate Change Importance and Worry among Italian Youths: A Machine Learning Approach
by Gabriele Prati, Iana Tzankova, Cinzia Albanesi and Elvira Cicognani
Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15716; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315716 - 25 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1662
Abstract
The current study aimed to investigate the longitudinal predictors of perceived importance of climate change and personal worry among Italian youths. Specifically, we used machine learning techniques to examine the predictive importance of a wide range of socio-demographic factors, political perceptions, attitudes on [...] Read more.
The current study aimed to investigate the longitudinal predictors of perceived importance of climate change and personal worry among Italian youths. Specifically, we used machine learning techniques to examine the predictive importance of a wide range of socio-demographic factors, political perceptions, attitudes on a national and European level (identity, attitudes, tolerance, support for democracy, authoritarianism, nationalism, political trust), efficacy beliefs, social well-being, political interest, and different forms of participation on perceived importance of climate change and personal worry. In this longitudinal study, we collected data using a questionnaire in two waves at a one-year interval—in 2016 and 2017. Participants were 1288 Italian young adults (61.3% were female; 38.7% were male) whose mean age was 19.18 (SD = 3.29) ranging between 15 and 30 years. Breiman’s random forest algorithm performed better than Friedman’s gradient boosting machines algorithm. The random forest algorithm revealed that age, tolerance toward migrants, and tolerance toward refugees were the most important predictors of perceived importance of climate change and personal worry. Other important predictors were national/European identity, political interest, internal political efficacy, nationalism, social well-being, self-efficacy, authoritarianism, anti-democratic attitudes, EU warmth, and online and civic participation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Psychology for a Sustainable Community?)
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15 pages, 543 KiB  
Article
Beyond Personal Responsibility: Analyzing How Attributing Responsibility for Environmental Protection Can Hinder Action
by Nicole H. O’Donnell and Jeanine P. D. Guidry
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13503; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013503 - 19 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2348
Abstract
Environmentalists face several challenges when communicating water quality hazards, especially those that are unseen to the naked eye. Grounded in the Extended Parallel Process Model, we analyzed how perceptions of conservation responsibility and the visualization of pollution affected perceived water quality threats, efficacy, [...] Read more.
Environmentalists face several challenges when communicating water quality hazards, especially those that are unseen to the naked eye. Grounded in the Extended Parallel Process Model, we analyzed how perceptions of conservation responsibility and the visualization of pollution affected perceived water quality threats, efficacy, and pro-environmental behavior outcomes. We conducted a 2 × 2 between-subjects controlled message-testing experiment with 502 adults from the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Individuals viewed personal or government attribution messages with fear or non-fear visuals to see how messages affected intentions to take part in a river clean-up day, enact environmentally friendly behaviors, and comment on public policy. Messages that promoted government responsibility and those that featured images of polluted water increased response efficacy, threat appraisals, fear, and intentions. Promoting personal responsibility yielded more limited effects. Furthermore, messages were less effective when they featured visuals of clean water. Implications include recommendations for using responsibility attribution messages in practice and engaging the public with information about unseen hazards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Psychology for a Sustainable Community?)
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14 pages, 287 KiB  
Article
Water Conservation and Environmental Sustainability from a Community Clinical Psychological Perspective
by Andrea Caputo, Manuela Tomai, Elpiniki Pomoni, Hilda Cecilia Méndez, Bartolo Atilio Castellanos, on behalf of the “Agua Futura” Consortium and Viviana Langher
Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9146; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159146 - 26 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2139
Abstract
This study was carried out as a part of the international cooperation project “Agua Futura” for the improvement of water resource management in rural communities of Central America. Given the problem of water shortage, especially in El Salvador, the aim was to detect [...] Read more.
This study was carried out as a part of the international cooperation project “Agua Futura” for the improvement of water resource management in rural communities of Central America. Given the problem of water shortage, especially in El Salvador, the aim was to detect some key factors affecting water conservation and environmental sustainability from a community clinical psychological perspective. Ninety rural inhabitants (mean age = 46.84, SD = 17.05) of El Salvador were given a structured interview exploring their symbolizations about water conservation. Data were analyzed through computer-assisted thematic analysis, then complemented by a qualitative analysis. Several themes were identified highlighting some differences regarding the emotional salience given to water resources as a primary good, the sense of responsibility for the sustainability of water resources at the community level, as well as diverse motivations and purposes affecting water use in households. The findings support the role of emotions, representations about others’ attitudes, and defenses against vulnerability and future uncertainty about water shortage. Additionally, the shift between an individualist or collectivist perspective underlying the decision to preserve water resources represents a significant matter to be taken into account for the understanding of effective pro-environmental behaviors in the long run. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Psychology for a Sustainable Community?)
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