AIR QUALITY AWARENESS AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE AMONG COLLEGE COMMUNITIES: A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS EDUCATION IN IMO STATE

Abstract

Air quality remains a pressing environmental and public health concern in rapidly urbanizing regions of Nigeria, with implications for respiratory health, cognitive performance, and long-term well-being. This study examined air quality awareness and behavioral responses among undergraduate students in three tertiary institutions in Imo State—Imo State University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education—through the lens of environmental systems education and psychological frameworks. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the mixed-methods research surveyed 300 students and conducted six focus group discussions. Findings indicated moderate awareness levels (M = 58.4, SD = 13.2 on a 100-point scale), with significant gaps in understanding the links between local sources such as vehicular emissions, open waste burning, and health outcomes. TPB constructs—attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predicted pro-environmental behavioral intentions, explaining 47% of variance in intentions to engage in actions such as waste segregation and advocacy. Environmental systems education correlated positively with higher awareness and stronger intentions; however, actual behaviors lagged due to infrastructural and cultural barriers. Urban-rural and faculty differences emerged, with science students showing greater knowledge but similar behavioral constraints. The study proposed evidence-based strategies for curriculum integration and campus interventions to bridge awareness-behavior gaps. These results underscored the psychological dimensions of environmental action and highlighted the potential of targeted education to foster sustainable practices among future leaders in college communities.