Moving toward salvaging Iran's groundwater: A psychological analysis of blocking unauthorized agricultural wells

Abstract

Concerns about the over-extraction of groundwater and the environmental effects of that have increased the need to change mental patterns about water consumption. This study is aimed on the psychological analysis of the blockage of unauthorized water wells in the agricultural sector of Iran through the integration of PMT and TPB models. The research model was tested with 384 farmers. A questionnaire was used for data collection, the validity and reliability of which were obtained to be at an optimal level. For testing the research hypotheses Smart-PLS4 software was used. The research findings showed that the effects of six variables being attitude, subjective norm, perceived severity, response cost, response efficacy, and self-efficacy on intention were significant; however, the effect of perceived vulnerability on intention was not significant. Based on structural equation modeling results, the intention variable mediates significantly the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The independent and mediating variables were able to explain 49 % of the variance of farmers' behavior toward blockage of unauthorized water wells. Other than providing a new theoretical perspective toward understanding the blocking behavior of unauthorized water wells, the present study findings provide valuable insights for enhancing conservation behavior. To encourage people to participate in conservation behaviors, practical suggestions are provided for relevant policy-makers and planners as well as water conservation advocates.

Keywords

• Water resource management
• Behavioral change
• Decision-making instruments
• Protection Motivation Theory
• Theory of Planned Behavior