Dimensions of Environmental Policy Support in the United States

In: Social science quarterly, Band 79, Heft 4, S. 717-733

Abstract

Data from the National Election Survey 1995 pilot study are drawn on to determine the statistical & substantive characteristics of the latent structure of environmental policy support among 486 US respondents. Results of exploratory factor analysis, structural equations with maximum likelihood estimation (via EQS), & ordinary least-squares regression analyses reveal that environmental policy support holds a monarchial hierarchical structure, where the second-order factor, environmental policy support, comprises three subdimensions. A substantive difference exists between these dimensions, as they are predicted by differing exogenous variables. Environmental policy support is shown to be a complex, multidimensional, & multilevel set of attitudes. Implications for the environmental justice literature are drawn from the fact that external efficacy & race are significant predictors of (only) the environmental quality assessment dimension. 3 Tables, 2 Figures, 29 References. Adapted from the source document.