Older adults' attitudes, concerns, and support for environmental issues in the "New West"

Update Item Information
Publication Type journal article
School or College College of Nursing
Department Nursing
Creator Caserta, Michael; Wright, Scott D.; Lund, Dale A.
Title Older adults' attitudes, concerns, and support for environmental issues in the "New West"
Date 2003-08-01
Description The natural environment has been a missing topic from education and public policy forums concerning an aging society. This study examines demographic trends and several socio-demographic influences on attitudes, concerns, and active support for environmental issues among older adults in a retirement "hot spot" in the New West. A sample of 394 older adults in southwestern Utah was obtained from questionnaires mailed to those randomly selected from a larger dataset, and through hand-distributed questionnaires at selected RV parks. We found a high degree of variability among respondents in regard to environmental attitudes and concerns. Despite a personal attitudinal desire to protect the environment, most older adults did not want to become involved in protective actions for the environment. We found that residency status and religious affiliation emerged as the strongest relationships with measures of attitudes and concerns, and willingness to support the environment. The most influential factors associated with willingness to take action in support of the environment were having higher levels of active/social concerns, and higher levels of awareness of environmental consequences. The New West is one of the fastest-growing areas for demographic aging, and the opinions and actions of older adults will play a significant role in the stewardship and sustainability of natural resources, particularly in retirement hot spots.
Type Text
Publisher Baywood Publishing Co.
Journal Title The International Journal of Aging and Human Development
Volume 57
Issue 2
First Page 151
Last Page 179
DOI 10.2190/Y73Y-0RK9-RP0J-E7HH
citatation_issn 10.2190/Y73Y-0RK9-RP0J-E7HH
Subject Environmental issues; New West; Environmental activism
Subject LCSH Older people -- Attitudes
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Wright, S. D., Caserta, M. S., & Lund, D. A. (2003). Older adults' attitudes, concerns, and support for environmental issues in the "New West". International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 57(2), 151-79.
Rights Management (c)Baywood Publishing Company http://dx.doi.org/10.2190/Y73Y-0RK9-RP0J-E7HH
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 137,247 bytes
Identifier sustain/id/3
ARK ark:/87278/s6w95tst
Setname ir_su
ID 326794
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6w95tst
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