Enda Kalyana Putri, Ana Uswatun Hasanah

Harmony of Behavior and Environment: The Role of Risks, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, Self-regulation Models in Optimizing Sustainable Water Management

Introduction

Harmony of behavior and environment: the role of risks, attitudes, norms, abilities, self-regulation models in optimizing sustainable water management. Investigate how risks, attitudes, norms, abilities, & self-regulation (RANAS) influence sustainable household water management in urban-fringe areas. Findings highlight perceived risk, social norms, and abilities.

Abstract

Access to clean water remains a critical issue in urban-fringe areas where population growth, inadequate sanitation infrastructure, and behavioral patterns intersect. This study investigates the role of psychosocial factors based on the Risks, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, and Self-regulation (RANAS) model in influencing household water management behavior in Kelurahan Tahunan, Umbulharjo District, Yogyakarta. Using a cross-sectional design and multistage random sampling across representative neighborhoods, data were collected from 97 households and analyzed through multiple linear regression. Results show that perceived risk (β = 0.229, p = 0.035), social norms (β = 0.229, p = 0.028), and abilities (β = 0.321, p = 0.003) significantly affect household behavior in managing clean water, while attitudes and self-regulation were not statistically significant. The findings underscore the importance of integrating behavioral interventions with structural improvements, particularly in areas with limited sanitation infrastructure. This study advocates for targeted community education, infrastructure development, and policy interventions that prioritize social norms and capacity-building to foster sustainable water practices.

Review

This study adeptly addresses the pressing issue of sustainable water management in urban-fringe areas, offering a focused examination of how psychosocial factors, particularly those derived from the Risks, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, and Self-regulation (RANAS) model, influence household water behavior. By applying a cross-sectional design to analyze data from 97 households in a specific Yogyakarta neighborhood, the research provides empirical evidence that perceived risk, social norms, and abilities significantly predict clean water management behaviors. This directly responds to a critical gap where population growth and infrastructure deficits intersect with behavioral patterns, making the study's objective both timely and highly relevant to global sustainability challenges. A key strength of this research lies in its nuanced application of the RANAS model, which allows for a disaggregated understanding of behavioral drivers. The finding that perceived risk, social norms, and abilities are significant, while attitudes and self-regulation are not, offers crucial insights for intervention design. This differentiation is particularly valuable, suggesting that generalized behavioral change campaigns may be less effective than targeted strategies that leverage community norms, enhance practical capabilities, and heighten risk perception. The study's advocacy for integrating behavioral interventions with structural improvements, alongside specific recommendations for community education and capacity-building, underscores its practical utility and potential to inform evidence-based policy in areas facing similar water management challenges. While providing valuable insights, a few aspects warrant further consideration. The sample size of 97 households, while yielding statistically significant results for some variables, is relatively modest for a multiple linear regression analysis and might limit the broader generalizability of the findings beyond the specific study context. Furthermore, as a cross-sectional study, it establishes correlations rather than causal relationships, a common limitation but one important to acknowledge when discussing policy implications. Future research could benefit from longitudinal designs to investigate causal pathways and the dynamic interplay of these psychosocial factors over time. Additionally, exploring the reasons why attitudes and self-regulation did not emerge as significant predictors in this specific context would enrich the theoretical contribution and provide a deeper understanding of the model's boundary conditions.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.