Validation of a scale assessing psychological restoration associated with sustainable behaviours

Abstract

Spanish

Grounded in the idea that sustainable actions can be maintained through positive psychological repercussions, the main aim of this study was to demonstrate the hypothesis that people achieve psychological restoration through their sustainable behaviour and that this restoration can be measured through self-reporting measures. A scale was developed to assess the perception of the possible restorative effects of engaging in pro-environmental and pro-social actions. The instrument, administered to one hundred and forty inhabitants of a Mexican city, contained 16 items that measured, as sub-scales, the dimensions of being away, fascination, extent and compatibility which—according to the theory—identify psychological restorative states. Two additional scales were also administered, measuring the self-reporting of pro-environmental and altruistic behaviours. The restoration sub-scales displayed internal consistency, confirmed the expected four-dimensional structure, whilst also facilitating the emergence of a higher-order factor (psychological restoration associated with sustainable practices). The above was taken as evidence of construct convergent validity. Given that this second-order factor significantly correlated with the measures of altruism and pro-environmental behaviour, the results also indicate criterion validity for the instrument tested here. Its use is proposed in studies aimed at demonstrating the positive psychological effects of sustainability.

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