Personal values, environmental beliefs and ecological behavior of Brazilian employees: the Case of Public Ministry of the Federal District and Territories

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between personal values, environmental beliefs and ecological behavior of employees in a public organization of Brasilia. A sample of 295 employees of Public Ministry of the Federal District and Territories (52.5% women) with mean age of 39 years (SD = 8.3) answered three scales. The first one measured the ecological behavior, the second one assessed environmental beliefs, both in the context of work, while the last one measured personal values. Standard multiple regression analyses showed that the ecocentric beliefs, the values of universalism and stimulation and age were positive predictors of ecological behavior, while power and education level were negative predictors of such behavior. This results suggests that the institution should emphasize the strengthening of self-transcendence goals, the development of most dynamic, challenging and allow servers to receive personal benefits that show the population as subjects in tune with the social aspirations of a world better compatible with the image of the institution they represent.