The role of parents and best friends in children's pro-environmentalism: Differences according to age and gender

Although research suggests parents influence the development of their children's environmental attitudes (EA) and behaviors (EB), the possible impact of other socialization agents is largely unknown. This article takes a closer look at how parents and friends may shape 9 to 13 year-olds' EA and EB. Parents' EA and EB were registered via questionnaires and children's reported their EA and EB through computer-based, child-friendly questionnaires. Participants' responses were matched with their best friend's. The results of a structural equation model showed that children's EA predicted their EB, and parents' and best friend's EB significantly predicted children's EB. Additionally, the effects of these two social agents on children's pro-environmentalism vary across gender and age. Girls were more sensitive to social agents than boys. Younger children were more strongly influenced by their parents than older ones. On the contrary, best friends had a stronger effect on older children.