Explanation of Environmental Behaviors in Iranian Society: A Meta-Analysis of the Studies Published during 2005-2024

Overview

This meta-analysis synthesizes two decades of research on environmental behavior in Iran, examining studies published between 2005 and 2024. The investigation addresses contradictions in existing literature and aims to identify key factors influencing environmental behavior in Iranian society. The research context is framed by Iran's declining environmental sustainability rankings, dropping from 105th in 2016 to 113th in 2024 among 180 countries. The study aggregates findings from 54 quantitative articles indexed in Iranian scientific databases to provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental behavior determinants and prevent redundant research efforts in this domain.

Methods and approach

The meta-analysis drew from studies indexed in Magiran, Olom Ensani, and SID databases covering the 2005-2024 period. Inclusion criteria required that articles explicitly address environmental behaviors in their titles, employ quantitative methods, and provide sufficient statistical data for effect size calculations, including correlation coefficients, sample sizes, and relationship directions. From an initial pool of 152 articles, 54 were selected for analysis based on content relevance and availability of data necessary for effect size computation. The analytical framework focused on psychological and social variables such as environmental attitudes, awareness, knowledge, values, norms, and behavioral tendencies, examined through established theoretical frameworks.

Key Findings

Behavioral tendency toward pro-environmental action emerged as the strongest predictor of environmental behavior, exhibiting the largest effect size among all examined variables. The Theory of Planned Behavior and Value-Belief-Norm Theory demonstrated the greatest empirical capacity for explaining environmental behaviors, while the New Environmental Paradigm showed gradual influence on attitudes and behavioral tendencies in Iranian society. Temporal analysis revealed that effect sizes for environmental attitude, awareness, and knowledge increased substantially in the 2015-2024 decade compared to 2005-2014, suggesting enhanced influence of cultural, media, and educational initiatives. Research predominantly approached environmental behavior through sociological perspectives, emphasizing psychological and social variables. The findings confirmed environmental behavior as a multifaceted phenomenon shaped simultaneously by attitudes, awareness, norms, and diverse social and cultural contexts.

Implications

The temporal increase in effect sizes for attitudinal and cognitive variables indicates growing receptivity to environmental concepts in Iranian society, presenting opportunities for targeted policy interventions and educational initiatives. The findings suggest that environmental behavior modification can be achieved through educational programs, awareness campaigns, social capital strengthening, and cultivation of positive collective norms, rather than relying exclusively on punitive measures. The increasing role of mass media and social networks in fostering environmental awareness warrants further empirical investigation into specific mechanisms through which media, influencers, and digital platforms shape environmental behaviors. Evidence-based educational and cultural interventions grounded in the cognitive, attitudinal, and cultural components identified in this analysis could enhance environmental behaviors among Iranian citizens. The meta-analysis provides a foundation for more efficient research design by identifying established predictors and theoretical frameworks with demonstrated empirical validity.