Unveiling the interplay between knowledge, self-efficacy, and pro-environmental behavior about climate change in a sample of rural community-dwelling older adults: A national correlational study

Background: Climate change is a global health concern that affects all of humanity, but it disproportionately impacts older adults, particularly those living in rural communities. Older adults lack the ability to actively engage in pro-environmental actions aimed at adapting to and mitigating the harmful effects of climate change. Aim: To investigate the relationship between knowledge, self-efficacy, and pro-environmental behavior regarding climate change, as well as to identify the factors that predict pro-environmental behavior in a sample of rural community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A descriptive correlational research design was used with a convenience sample of 517 older adults aged 60 and above, who were recruited from the post offices of the National Post Authority in Minya Governorate, Egypt. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire, a Climate Change Knowledge Questionnaire, the Environmental Self-Efficacy Scale (ESE), and the Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale (PEBS). Results: A highly statistically significant positive relationship between climate change knowledge, environmental self-efficacy and pro-environmental behavior (r = 0.412, P=.000; r = 0.392,P=.000 & r = 0.720, P=.000 respectively) was reported. As well as, climate change knowledge and environmental self-efficacy were predictors of high pro-environmental behavior scores (P=.00, R = 0.785; R2=0.617; Adjusted R2=0.615; Conclusion: Integrating climate change education into Egypt's sustainable development goals is essential for fostering older adults' environmental self-efficacy, which in turn promotes climate change activism among older people in rural communities. (c) 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.