Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.
María Amérigo1, Juan A. García1, Raquel Pérez-López2, Gabriela Cassullo3, Alberto Ramos4, Siva Kalyan Venumbaka5, and Juan I. Aragonés2
1 Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha,
2 Universidad Complutense de Madrid,
3 Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina),
4 Universidad de Nuevo León (México), and
5 Mamata Dental College (India)
Background: Most studies focused on measuring environmental attitudes consider a one-dimension measure of pro/anti-environmentalism, such as NEP scale. Nevertheless, more recent research has shown that it seems more adequate to use a multidimensional approach when assessing complex relations among people and the natural environment, particularly on cultural basis. This paper aims to test the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Environmental Concern Scale (MECS) and, in particular, its factorial invariance. Method: Two studies were conducted. The first one assessed factorial invariance using two different approaches (multiple group confirmatory factor analysis – MGCFA, and alignment method) in a sample of 907 undergraduate students from Argentina, India, and Spain. A second study was conducted with 557 adults from Mexico and Spain, which also evaluated the criterion validity of the MECS’ scores. Results: The results obtained allowed to assure an acceptable degree of invariance of the MECS among all countries, and in terms of gender (Studies 1 and 2), age and education level (Study 2). Conclusions: Results provide support for a multidimensional approach when studying the environmental concern, showing that the environmentalism presents different associations depending on the analysed country. A deep analysis on different conceptualization of environmentalism will be promoted.
Análisis de la estructura e invarianza factorial de la Escala Multidimensional de Ambientalismo (EMA). Antecedentes: la mayoría de los estudios que miden actitudes ambientales utilizan una medida unidimensional de pro/anti-ambientalismo como la escala NPE. Sin embargo, investigaciones recientes han mostrado la adecuación de enfoques multidimensionales al medir las relaciones complejas entre las personas y el entorno natural, particularmente sobre una base cultural. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo probar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala Multidimensional de Ambientalismo (EMA) y, en particular, su invarianza factorial. Método: se realizaron dos estudios. El primero evaluó la invarianza a través de dos enfoques diferentes (análisis factorial confirmatorio multigrupo y método de alineamiento) en una muestra de 907 estudiantes universitarios de Argentina, India y España. El segundo estudio, llevado a cabo en México y España con 557 adultos de la población general, evaluó además la validez de criterio sobre las puntuaciones obtenidas con la EMA. Resultados: se obtiene un nivel de invarianza aceptable de la EMA entre los países considerados y según género (estudios 1 y 2), edad y nivel educativo (estudio 2). Conclusiones: los resultados apoyan un enfoque multidimensional de las actitudes ambientales, mostrando que el interés ambiental presenta distintas asociaciones según el país analizado. Ello permitirá estudiar en profundidad las diferentes conceptualizaciones del ambientalismo.
SPANISH
ENGLISH
https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2019.281