Sustainable transportation pros, cons, and self-efficacy as predictors of 6-month stage transitions in a Chinese sample

- Pros, cons, and self-efficacy for sustainable transportation (ST) were examined.
- These variables differently predicted the adoption and relapse of ST.
- Practitioners need to develop different interventions for adopting ST and for maintaining ST.

Sustainable transportation (ST) refers to any form of commuting other than single occupancy vehicle usage. This study prospectively examined the pros, cons, and self-efficacy for ST as predictors of stage transitions over a period of 6 months. Participants included 656 Chinese college students and workers. They completed a translated questionnaire on their ST stage (from Precontemplation to Maintenance), pros, cons, and self-efficacy. Six months later, the participants completed another questionnaire on their stage of change. The data on the participants in the pre-Action and post-Action stages were combined to predict forward transitions out of the pre-Action stages and backward transitions from the post-Action stages. Logistic regression analyses were conducted predicting 6-month stage transitions, either forward or backward, using baseline stage, pros, cons, and self-efficacy. Higher ST pros and, unexpectedly, lower ST self-efficacy predicted forward stage transitions among baseline participants who were not using ST. In contrast, lower ST pros and higher ST cons predicted backward stage transitions (regression) among those who at baseline were using ST. This study provides a preliminary understanding of predictive mechanisms of stage transitions for ST.