중국 대학생의 해양 리터러시가 친해양 환경 행동에 미치는 영향 연구

Abstract

This study aims to explore the impact of ocean literacy among Chinese university students on pro-marine environmental behaviors and to analyze in depth how marine environmental responsibility, marine environmental values, and marine environmental beliefs mediate this process. Employing a mixed-methods research strategy, the study conducted a quantitative survey of 860 students from ten universities across Guangdong, Henan, and Hubei provinces, along with in-depth qualitative interviews with 16 students, to construct a comprehensive model examining the relationships among these variables. The quantitative part of the research utilized a parallel mediation model to thoroughly analyze the direct impact of ocean literacy on Chinese university students' pro-marine environmental behaviors and its potential mediating effects. This model revealed the critical mediating roles of marine environmental responsibility and values in bridging ocean literacy with pro-environmental behaviors. Analysis of questionnaire data from 860 students showed that most lacked awareness of marine conservation, and overall levels of ocean literacy were relatively low. However, the data also indicated that as ocean literacy improved, students' recognition of the importance of marine conservation significantly increased. This enhanced awareness not only spurred students' sense of marine environmental responsibility but also helped shape and strengthen positive environmental values, thereby significantly promoting their environmental actions. The findings further emphasize the central bridging role of marine environmental beliefs in developing ocean literacy and driving pro-marine environmental actions. By enhancing the public's, especially young students', deep understanding of marine issues, a more intense sense of environmental responsibility and more active conservation behaviors can be effectively stimulated. This internally driven force is not only rooted in the cultivation of marine environmental values but also involves how to combine personal and societal interests, thereby comprehensively enhancing individual environmental awareness and facilitating a transformation in environmental behaviors. The qualitative part of this study involved in-depth interviews with 16 university students using NVivo software, followed by systematic coding analysis of the interview results. These analyses supplemented the findings from the quantitative study, revealing the complexities of students' multidimensional cognition, attitudes, and behaviors toward marine conservation. The analyses demonstrated that the environmental behaviors of Chinese university students are influenced not only by their marine science knowledge but also by a combination of factors including environmental ethics, personal values, and socio-cultural backgrounds. The interview data further revealed students' profound understanding of marine ecosystems and their strong sense of responsibility toward marine conservation, deeply influenced by their values and environmental beliefs. During the interviews, students expressed challenges in translating environmental awareness into concrete actions, such as limitations in resources and opportunities and constraints imposed by cultural and social structures. In summary, this research constructed a theoretical and empirical model by comprehensively analyzing the relationships between ocean literacy, marine environmental values, marine beliefs, marine responsibility, and pro-marine behaviors, thus deeply revealing how these variables interact to promote environmental actions. The study employed a mediation model form, not only deepening the understanding of how ocean literacy directly impacts pro-marine behaviors but also clarifying the critical mediating roles of marine responsibility and values in this process. The study showed that enhancing ocean literacy significantly boosts individuals' recognition of the importance of marine environmental protection. This recognition, by stimulating marine responsibility and shaping positive environmental values, significantly drives environmental actions. Furthermore, the strengthening of marine beliefs has been proven to be an effective way to enhance public ocean literacy, which can stimulate a stronger sense of environmental responsibility and proactive conservation behaviors through enhanced awareness and understanding of marine issues. The theoretical and practical findings of this study provide a new perspective for expanding the research framework on pro-marine environmental behaviors and offer new mechanisms on how ocean literacy can influence environmental actions through mediating variables. On a practical level, these findings provide a basis for formulating targeted educational and policy measures, helping to promote more effective environmental protection actions and thus facilitating the development of sustainable management and conservation strategies for marine resources. This study also has certain limitations, such as the geographic and cultural representativeness of the sample and the cross-sectional study design, which limits the in-depth analysis of causal relationships. Future research should expand the sample size and adopt a longitudinal design to explore the causal relationships between ocean literacy and pro-marine behaviors. Additionally, combining multiple research methods could reduce biases and enhance the reliability of the data. Further research into the mechanisms of marine values and through education, policy, and social support, helping students overcome practical barriers could promote more effective environmental behaviors and sustainable management of marine resources. These research efforts will provide solid theoretical support for understanding the complex relationships between ocean literacy and pro-marine behaviors and offer practical guidance for marine education and policy formulation.