Investigating the factors influencing the environmental attitudes of the students of the humanities faculties of Shiraz University

About half of the world's population are women, and their attitudes toward the environment play an important role in the sustainable development of society. This study aimed to investigate gender differences in environmental attitudes. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data via the survey method. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, and construct validity was assessed through Factor analysis. The statistical population comprised all students of the humanities faculties at Shiraz University, with a sample size of 400 cases estimated using the Cochran formula and selected through stratified sampling.
The study integrated theories such as ecofeminism, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Magic Bullet theory, and Parsons' theory for model development. Results indicated no significant difference in environmental attitudes between male and female students. While there was no significant relationship between environmental attitudes and the use of environmental awareness sources, there was a notable difference in environmental attitudes among male students based on marital status, with single men exhibiting stronger environmental attitudes.
Additionally, a direct and significant relationship was found between social responsibility and the dependent variable. There was also a significant difference in environmental attitudes based on educational level, particularly among female MA students who showed stronger environmental attitudes. Consequently, gender differences in environmental attitudes were evident when considering various social and background factors.
The results of the multivariate regression analysis highlighted that social responsibility and marital status (being single) had the most substantial impact on students' environmental attitudes, collectively explaining 48% of the variance in the dependent variable. Overall, there appears to be a trend of gender convergence and dedifferentiation in the attitudes of male and female students toward the environment.
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Environment, Women, Sources of Environmental Awareness, Students
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‌Introduction
Environmental problems exist worldwide and are not confined to specific regions. Sociologists posit that many environmental issues stem from human behavior, with attitudes serving as a significant background for such behavior. Environmental attitude encompasses beliefs and emotions that shape an individual's perspective on the environment, either positively or negatively. Approximately half of the global population comprises women, and their attitudes and behaviors toward the environment play pivotal roles in societal development.
Given the increasing presence of women in social and academic spheres and their influential roles within families, this study aims to elucidate gender differences in the environmental attitudes of humanities students at Shiraz University. It seeks to answer the following questions: What are the disparities in environmental attitudes between male and female students? What correlations exist between the use of environmental awareness resources, social responsibility, educational level, and students' environmental attitudes? Is there a significant relationship between marital status and students' environmental attitudes?
 
Methodology
The present study employed a survey method to collect data. A structured questionnaire was utilized for this purpose. Cronbach's alpha and construct validity via factor analysis were employed to assess the reliability and validity of the questionnaire, respectively. The statistical population comprised all students enrolled in the humanities faculties of Shiraz University. These faculties encompassed the Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Theology and Islamic Studies, Law and Political Sciences, Economics, Management, and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology.
Based on Cochran's formula, the sample size was initially estimated at 387 students. However, to achieve a more precise estimation, the sample size was increased to 400 students. The students were selected using a stratified sampling method.
 
Findings
The results indicate a significant difference among male students based on their marital status, whereas no significant difference was found in the environmental attitude of female students based on marital status. There is a significant difference at the 99% confidence level in the environmental attitude among all students and female students based on their educational level. However, there is no significant difference in environmental attitude based on gender, field of study, or social class among all students, or based on educational level, field of study, or social class among male students or female students.
A significant relationship was found between the social responsibility of humanities students at Shiraz University and their environmental attitude. No significant relationship was observed between environmental attitude and the use of environmental awareness resources among all students, female students, or male students.
The results of the multivariate regression test indicated that variables such as social responsibility and marital status (single) had the greatest impact on students' environmental attitudes, respectively. Overall, the variables included in the multiple regression model explained 48% of the variance in the dependent variable.
 
Result
In today's world, there is not much difference between the environmental attitudes of women and men. The reason for this may be the use of modern and equal education for both genders. Awareness through education leads to increased knowledge, concern, and the development of a responsible environmental attitude in both sexes. Therefore, the use of equal education diminishes gender and demographic differences in environmental perspectives and enhances collective agreement to protect the environment.
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