Factors influencing adaptation to water scarcity in the context of climate change: Integrated socio-psychological models in Kermanshah province, Iran

Study region: Kermanshah province in western Iran. Study focus: This research integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory to analyze socio-psychological factors influencing farmers' adaptation to water scarcity. Using a survey of 380 farmers and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis, the study examines key predictors of adaptive behavior, including awareness of consequences, behavioral intention, perceived behavioral control, and personal norms. New hydrological insights for the region: Analysis of the data revealed significant relationships between the two integrated theories. The farmers' water scarcity adaptation behavior was explained by the awareness of consequences, behavioral intention, perceived behavioral control and personal norms. Additionally, 57.1 % of behavioral intention and 54.7 % of water scarcity adaptation behavior were explained. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the strongest predictor of farmers' water scarcity adaptation behavior was the behavioral intention.