Exploring urban resident’s vehicular PM2.5 reduction behavior intention: An application of the extended theory of planned behavior

Urban transport sector has become an important haze air pollution emitter due to the amplification of the gasoline-based vehicles which release amounts of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Regulating resident’s PM2.5 reduction behaviors related to vehicle use is an effective measure for PM2.5 emission control. The present study focuses on two types of resident vehicular PM2.5 reduction behaviors (taking public transportation and purchasing electric vehicles) and examines their key predictors and influencing mechanism based on the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The data was collected from Chinese urban residents who lived in heavy haze areas. The results indicated that attitude, subjective norm and moral norm have positive effects on each vehicular PM2.5 reduction intention. It was highlighted that the differentiated perceived behavioral control components (self-efficacy and perceived control) and their moderating effects were inconsistent across two behaviors. Regarding to the behavior of taking public transportation, self-efficacy affected the intention positively and directly, while perceived control affected intention indirectly by moderating the relationship between subjective norm and intention. For purchasing electric vehicles, self-efficacy and perceived control didn’t affect intention directly. Instead, self-efficacy moderated the relationship between moral norm and intention, and perceived control moderated the relationship between subjective norm and intention. The results confirm the appropriateness of the extended TPB model in predicting resident intentions to participate in vehicular PM2.5 reduction behaviors. The conclusions would be helpful for policy makers to take effective measures to reduce PM2.5 emissions and mitigate haze pollution.