Title: Formation of environmental consciousness in pre-school children through the media: a typology of influence axes

Authors: Dafni Petkou; Maria Tsiouni; Michael Vitoulis

Addresses: Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, International Hellenic University, 14th km. Thessaloniki – N. Moudania National Road, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece ' School of Agriculture, International Hellenic University, 14th km. Thessaloniki – N. Moudania – National Road, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece ' Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, International Hellenic University, 14th km. Thessaloniki – N. Moudania National Road, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: Cultivating values in the media leads to the development of an environmental moral. This study examines how mass media affects preschool children's environmental consciousness. The 'internal cohesion' and the structural relationships of questions that explain the main effects of the media on children's attitudes and behaviours have been investigated. The questionnaires appeal to 86 preschool parents. Using principal component analysis, a model was derived for interpreting the 'internal cohesion' of parameters and describing the main influences of media on preschool children's environmental consciousness. The model reveals five significant components. As a result, mass media have a significant impact on preschoolers' environmental awareness. Among the factors that contribute to forming environmental awareness among children are the information and knowledge they get from the mass media about environmental problems, as well as events, cinema, and video games. In addition, children should be taught about fires and how to prevent them.

Keywords: mass media; environmental consciousness; preschool age; principal component analysis; environmental education.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2025.148305

Global Business and Economics Review, 2025 Vol.33 No.3/4, pp.282 - 298

Received: 16 Jan 2023
Accepted: 11 May 2023
Published online: 02 Sep 2025 *

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