Eco-anxiety in travel decision making among Generations X and Z
Hurri, Kaisa (2020)
Hurri, Kaisa
2020
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020052513558
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020052513558
Tiivistelmä
Eco-anxiety is an unfortunate result of climate change that affects our health, attitudes and values. It’s a result of increased worry and desperation people are experiencing about the environment. Eco-anxiety can appear in many different forms and symptoms such as ex-periencing different feelings, loss of appetite or panic attacks. This research studies the reasons and solutions of eco-anxiety and its impacts on the travelling behaviour. In this work the phenomenon is observed in more detail from the perspective of two different gen-erations: Generation X, born in 1965-1981 and Generation Z, born in 1997-2012. The report resolves how eco-anxiety is seen and understood between these generations. The literature review consists of relevant subjects that define eco-anxiety as a term and its impacts on travelling. Also, general knowledge, characteristics and travelling habits of Generation X and Z are explained.
The objective of this research is to find out whether eco-anxiety has any influence on the decision making of Generation X and Z when travelling. The study focuses on finding out how the two generations experience eco-anxiety and how does it affect their travelling be-haviour. The thesis is commissioned by The Finnish Association for Fair Tourism which is an organisation that promotes responsible travel. Quantitative method was chosen as the main research method because it presents a large scale of responses and data that can be generalised and applied to different purposes. Online survey was the best option to reach as much of the population as possible.
The survey collected 273 valid responses from people that represented either Generation X or Generation Z. The responses didn’t vary significantly between the two generations. Based on the results of the online survey it can be stated that eco-anxiety has only a little impact on the travelling behaviour of Generations X and Z. They care about the well-being of the climate and are interested in responsible travelling. They already know how to travel more climate friendly. However, they haven’t made significant changes to their travelling routine. Both generations can be said to be equally climate conscious as any major differ-ences between the generations weren’t observed. Their positive intentions about climate still require implementation.
The objective of this research is to find out whether eco-anxiety has any influence on the decision making of Generation X and Z when travelling. The study focuses on finding out how the two generations experience eco-anxiety and how does it affect their travelling be-haviour. The thesis is commissioned by The Finnish Association for Fair Tourism which is an organisation that promotes responsible travel. Quantitative method was chosen as the main research method because it presents a large scale of responses and data that can be generalised and applied to different purposes. Online survey was the best option to reach as much of the population as possible.
The survey collected 273 valid responses from people that represented either Generation X or Generation Z. The responses didn’t vary significantly between the two generations. Based on the results of the online survey it can be stated that eco-anxiety has only a little impact on the travelling behaviour of Generations X and Z. They care about the well-being of the climate and are interested in responsible travelling. They already know how to travel more climate friendly. However, they haven’t made significant changes to their travelling routine. Both generations can be said to be equally climate conscious as any major differ-ences between the generations weren’t observed. Their positive intentions about climate still require implementation.