Secondary School Students’ Environmental Concerns: a Case Study from Slovenia

Abstract

Students’ environmental concerns were investigated using a questionnaire with 12 items. The study sample comprised 410 first and second year students of general upper secondary school from NW Slovenia. Results provide evidence that students’ concerns for the consequences of environmental damage formed three correlated factors organized around self and family, all people, and the biosphere. The highest was students’ environmental concern for the biosphere, followed by concern for self and family, and concern for all the people. Gender differences were significant in concerns for all people and for the biosphere; female students were more concerned than male students. Age differences were significant in concerns for the biosphere in favour of older students. Since humanity is facing challenges in balancing our demands and ecological limitations, the results of this study could be beneficial for further development of environmental education.