ORIGINAL RESEARCH
How Can Internet Use and Environmental
Risk Perception Encourage Pro-Environmental
Behaviors? The Mediating Role of Government
Performance Perception
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1
School of International Affairs and Public Administration, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
2
School of Political Science and Public Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
Submission date: 2022-04-24
Final revision date: 2022-06-25
Acceptance date: 2022-07-19
Online publication date: 2022-09-26
Publication date: 2022-12-08
Corresponding author
Qingduo Mao
School of International Affairs and Public Administration, Ocean University of China, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(6):5621-5631
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ABSTRACT
This paper explores the relationship between Internet use, environmental risk perception,
government performance perception, and pro-environmental behaviors. Survey data from the Chinese
General Social Survey 2013 was used to test relevant hypotheses. The results show that: (1) Internet
use has significant positive effects on environmental risk perception and pro-environmental behaviors.
(2) Internet use and environmental risk perception have significant negative effects on public perception
about the government’s environmental performance. (3) Government performance perception has
a significant positive effect on pro-environmental behaviors and negatively mediates the effect of
Internet use and environmental risk perception on pro-environmental behaviors. The findings suggest
that increasing the government’s environmental performance exposure can stimulate public engagement
in pro-environmental behaviors, thus facilitating the implementation of environmental policies requiring
citizen engagement.