Extended Abstract
Introduction: Human behavior is considered one of the important and influential factors in relation to the environment. Littering is among the major environmental, social, and aesthetic issues in contemporary societies, bringing about undesirable consequences for the urban landscape, public health, and the quality of the living environment. Given that social order is of great importance in every society, social capital and environmental awareness, as key constructs in sociology, can play a decisive role in explaining collective behaviors. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the aim of providing a sociological analysis of the relationship of social capital and environmental awareness with littering among the citizens of Yasuj.
Method: This study adopts a quantitative approach using a survey method. The statistical population consists of all individuals aged 15 to 65 residing in Yasuj. Participants were selected using a multi-stage random sampling method. The sample size was estimated at 384 based on Cochran’s formula and increased to 396 to enhance precision. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software.
Findings: The findings of the study indicated that social capital has a significant negative relationship with littering behavior, such that higher levels of social capital are associated with lower levels of littering. Likewise, environmental awareness was found to have a significant negative relationship with littering behavior, indicating that higher levels of citizens’ environmental awareness are associated with a lower likelihood of engaging in such behavior. Based on the results of the multiple regression analysis, social capital, gender, age, and environmental awareness were identified as significant predictors of littering behavior. Among these variables, social capital exerted the strongest effect on littering behavior. Gender and age also showed significant effects, with men being more likely than women to engage in littering, and younger individuals showing higher levels of littering behavior compared to older adults. In addition, environmental awareness contributed to the explanation of littering behavior and was negatively associated with it. Overall, these variables, within the multiple regression model, explained 23/6 of the variance in littering behavior.
Conclusion: According to the research findings, strengthening social capital and increasing citizens’ environmental awareness can play a significant role in reducing undesirable urban behaviors, particularly littering in public spaces. Social capital, by strengthening the sense of collective responsibility and increasing individuals’ adherence to social rules and norms, provides the groundwork for reducing undesirable behaviors in public spaces; meanwhile, environmental awareness, by reforming individual attitudes toward nature, doubles citizens’ sensitivity to the destructive consequences of leaving waste in their living environment.