Investigating the planned behavior of university students towards sustainable campus through air quality mitigation

Abstract Air quality is a critical determinant of human health and well-being, with poor air quality linked to a range of adverse health outcomes. Within university campuses, where large populations share indoor and outdoor spaces, managing air quality is essential not only for health protection but also for advancing institutional sustainability goals. Understanding the social and psychological factors that shape students’ environmental behaviours is therefore vital for designing effective interventions. This study aimed to investigate university students’ intentions to address air quality concerns using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Two hypotheses, aligning with the TPB’s theoretical structure, were tested to explore the relationships between attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and behavioural intentions. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire measuring these constructs, and the relationships were analysed using statistical techniques to assess both the strength and the significance of each predictor. The findings show that perceived behavioural control and attitudes, including efforts to reduce air pollution and participate in campus-based sustainability programmes, are the strongest predictors of students’ pro-environmental behaviours. Subjective norms, while slightly less influential, still had a statistically significant positive effect. The findings highlight the importance of enhancing students’ awareness of how educational institutions can encourage environmental responsibility and support broader social sustainability goals. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on campus sustainability by offering evidence-based insights that can guide university policy, environmental design strategies, and educational initiatives aimed at promoting environmental responsibility and contributing to broader social sustainability objectives.