A structural equation model of environmental attitude and behaviour : the Hong Kong experience

The present study aims at establishing a structural equation model relating affect, verbal commitment, and actual commitment using a sample of 271 university students (119 males, 152 females) by applying the theory of reasoned action (Aizen & Fishbein, 1980). A linear structural equation relation (LISREL) model was developed to verify that verbal commitment is a function of affect, and in tum, determine actual commitment. Sixty percent of the variance of verbal commitment could be explained by affect, and 19 % of actual commitment could be explained by verbal commitment; yet only a small percentage of the variance of actual commitment could be explained by affect. It can be concluded that verbal commitment is a good mediator of the affect- actual commitment relationship, and therefore the theory of reasoned action of having intention as the mediator of the attitude-environment relationship can be generalized to a Chinese sample.