Coastal sustainability responsibility model: A PLS-SEM analysis of knowledge, attitudes, decision-making, and behavior in Indonesian coastal communities

Coastal environmental sustainability is largely shaped by the responsibility of local communities in preserving coastal ecosystems. However, limited empirical research has examined the psychosocial mechanisms that underpin this responsibility. This study aims to examine the psychosocial factors influencing coastal sustainability responsibility, including knowledge, attitudes, decision-making, and behavior. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with data from 450 coastal community respondents in Bulukumba Regency, Indonesia. Data were collected through online questionnaires and analyzed to assess both direct and mediating effects among variables. The findings indicate that decision-making (β = 0.464; p < 0.001) and behavior (β = 0.455; p < 0.001) significantly shape sustainability responsibility, whereas knowledge does not directly predict behavior (β = 0.003; p = 0.882). Attitudes strongly influence decision-making (β = 0.608; p < 0.001) but show no direct effect on responsibility (β = 0.012; p = 0.716), highlighting the pivotal role of psychological mediation in shaping responsibility. Mediation analysis further confirmed the indirect influence of knowledge on responsibility through attitudes, decision-making, and behavior, with significant path coefficients (β = 0.21; p < 0.001). These results underscore the importance of strengthening decision-making skills and pro-environmental behaviors in coastal education and policy interventions. The novelty of this study lies in positioning responsibility as the primary outcome within the conceptual Coastal Sustainability Responsibility (CSR) model, offering both theoretical and practical contributions to the coastal sustainability literature. • The CSR model addresses gaps in behavior theories with a focus on responsibility. • Uses SEM with sequential mediation to explore relationships in the CSR model. • Decision-making and behavior have the strongest effects on responsibility. • Knowledge shapes responsibility through attitudes and decisions and behaviour. • Educational policies must integrate psychosocial factors, not just knowledge.