Re-evaluating the ‘who’ in environmentalism using latent profile analysis

Understanding who is currently (dis)engaged with environmental issues is important in targeting efforts to increase the momentum of environmentalism. However, previous research examining the sociodemographic groups associated with environmental (dis)engagement has produced inconsistent results. We contend that one reason for these inconsistencies is that the linear relationships between environmental engagement and independent sociodemographic groups that have been analysed in conventional approaches (e.g., regression) do not capture the roles of non-monotonic relationships and intersectional sociodemographic groups. To address these limitations of past research, we conducted latent profile analyses using data from Australia ( N = 1074), New Zealand ( N = 969) and the United States ( N = 1780) to understand how groups differ in their environmental beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours. We found that the most engaged and least engaged subgroups across all three countries are consistent with past research: an Environmental Activists profile associated with left-leaning, highly educated, White women; and a Disengaged Skeptics profile associated with right-leaning, older, less educated, White men. Going beyond the findings of past research, our latent profile analyses reveal a number of profiles with comparatively moderate levels of environmental engagement and conflicting attitudes and actions, associated with younger people, parents, and people of colour or with immigrant backgrounds. We discuss the theoretical implications of our novel findings for past research and the practical implications of our findings for strategic pro-environmental campaigns. • Across three countries we find consistent profiles of environmental engagement. • The profiles reveal non-monotonic relationships not captured by regression results. • Social intersectionalities are important for environmental engagement. • Our latent profiles may reconcile inconsistencies in past research.