Environmental Concern in South Africa: An Attitudinal Study

To date little attention has been paid to the investigation of South Africans' attitudes toward the natural — physical environment. In the present study, the issue of environmental concern is taken as a basic unit of analysis in assessing different groups' attitudes toward ecological issues such as pollution and wildlife preservation. The sample ( N = 2131) consisted of four groups of white South Africans, namely adolescent girls, adolescent boys, adult women, and adult men. Attitudes were assessed on the Environmental Concern Scale (ECS) developed by Weigel and Weigel (1978). The overall mean ECS scores differed with age, sex, and language groups, with English-speaking women showing the greatest degree of environmental concern. The mean ECS scores also correlated significantly with educational qualifications, membership of youth organizations, and participation in nature-orientated activities. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.