Title: Intentions towards the sustainability of young adults: a cross-cultural comparison

Authors: Sandra Maria Correia Loureiro; Hans Ruediger Kaufmann

Addresses: Marketing, Operations and General Management Department, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Av. Forças Armadas, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal ' School of Business, University of Nicosia, 46, Makedonitissas Ave., 1700 Nicosia, Cyprus; Vilnius University, International Business School, Sauletekio av. 22, LT-10225 Vilnius, Lithuania

Abstract: Education for sustainable development in higher education is becoming increasingly important for success of universities and other institutions where students will exercise their professions. The main goal of this study is to apply the theory of planned behaviour to analyse sustainability attitudes, behaviours and intentions among students in higher education institutions across five countries: USA, Portugal, Cyprus, Serbia, and South Korea. The results suggest that individualism, masculinity, and power distance moderate the effects of attitude and behaviour on sustainable intentions. Individuals in more individualistic and masculine societies tend to be more pro-active and assertive in their attitudes, decisions, and reactions towards sustainability. In universities located in societies that score high in power distance, professors and senior managers must be very clear when defining and practicing sustainability issues in courses, classes and on campus.

Keywords: sustainable development; higher education; theory of planned behaviour; TPB; cross-cultural studies; young adults; sustainability; university students; higher education; USA; United States; Portugal; Cyprus; Serbia; South Korea; individualism; masculinity; power distance; sustainable intentions.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2014.060382

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2014 Vol.10 No.2/3, pp.247 - 266

Published online: 30 May 2014 *

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