Family Communication and Climate-Friendly Behavior: Intergenerational Influence at Home and on the Road

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Environmental Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Environmentally significant behavior is typically studied at the individual level, but occurs within households and requires the cooperation of multiple individuals. To assess the impact of intergenerational influence, we investigate family communication as a mediator between individual beliefs about climate change and climate-friendly behaviors, hypothesizing that open, mutually receptive communication on climate and energy will build family behavioral norms that support climate-friendly behavior. Data are 523 U.S.-representative parent-teen dyads who participated in an online survey. Results show that climate change beliefs are strongly related to the perceived importance of climate-friendly behavior for both parents and teens. In households that perceive climate-friendly behavior as important, and that communicate frequently about it, a stronger conservation norm is found; this norm influences home energy consumption and transportation choices above and beyond what is explained by the parent's or teen's own beliefs. Implications for communication strategies to increase climate-friendly behavior are discussed.

Authors

• Connie Roser-Renouf, Center for Climate Change Communication

• June A. Flora, Stanford U

• Teresa Myers, George Mason U

• Edward Maibach, George Mason U

• Anthony Leiserowitz, Yale U