Environmental behavior structure and socio-economic conditions of hillside farmers: A multiple-group structural equation modeling approach

Using structural equation modeling and a health belief model within a conceptual economic framework, we examined the effects of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers on farmers' awareness of and attitudes towards environmental degradation. Perception of the severity of land degradation had a positive effect on individuals' awareness and attitude, regardless of socio-economic status. Farmers' perceived susceptibility to land degradation on household well-being positively affected attitude at low economic levels, whereas perceived benefits of land improvement positively influenced attitude of higher economic groups. Awareness of environmental degradation affected all economic groups' environmental behaviors. Attitude towards the problems affected behavior only for high income categories. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.