BIAGGIO, Angela M. B; SOUZA, Luciana Karine de; MONTEIRO, Janine Kieling    CAMINO, Cleonice P. S. Attitudes toward ecology in youth from five countries and five brazilian states. Gerais, Rev. Interinst. Psicol. []. 2008, 1, 2, pp.148-163. ISSN 1983-8220.

Two studies compared attitudes toward ecology among youngsters from: 1) five states in Brazil (Amazonas, Joao Pessoa, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and Rio Grande do Sul), and 2) five countries (Brazil, Chile, Germany, Portugal, and the United States). A questionnaire about attitudes toward the environment was used to collect data, which was analyzed by content analysis. The Brazilian samples from the first study highlighted deforestation, caring for fauna and flora, and the importance of river water as essential to life; nonetheless, they ignored the use of nuclear energy. Significant associations were found between some categories and samples from Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul, according to chi-square tests. In the second study, common categories were found among the five samples investigated: damages to nature; garbage selection; protection of the Amazon region and river water; and solution to problems related to industrial pollution, nuclear energy, and extinction of species. Samples from Germany, Chile, and Brazil showed more pro-nature attitudes than the remaining samples. The investigation about attitudes toward nature may contribute to the development of pro-environmental campaigns and educational programs that discuss important local, national, and international issues on ecology.

: Attitudes; Environment; Ecology; Nature; Intercultural Study.

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