Abstract:

The pro-environmental behaviors of individuals play a significant role in the realization of sustainability initiatives and the prevention of environmental degradation. The concept of green self-efficacy has emerged as a new thought in environmental matters. It encompasses individuals' beliefs about their ability to initiate and implement goals related to the environment. To align with the global green orientation, Bandura's 1997 definition of self-efficacy is referred to, defining green self-efficacy as "individuals' beliefs in their ability to organize and execute the actions required to achieve environmental goals".

Green self-efficacy refers to the awareness of individuals about their ability to create positive change in the environment and their belief in being successful in tasks related to this matter. Individuals' beliefs in their ability to improve sustainability and environmental quality, organize and implement green plans to achieve environmental goals, are expressed as green self-efficacy.

Individuals with high green self-efficacy feel responsible for reducing environmental hazards. They see themselves as part of the solution to these problems and feel more motivated to adopt eco-friendly goals. According to Jansson (2010), green self-efficacy has a positive and significant impact on the behavior of managers and employees in organizations.

Thus, we can say that the concept of green self-efficacy is a type of self-cognition that has a positive impact on pro- green self-efficacy. Green self-efficacy affects individuals' beliefs and actions towards supporting green and sustainable behaviors. Raising the green self-efficacy perceptions of individuals and organizations through producing environmental products, adopting a sustainable lifestyle, organizing green events, and motivating people in this regard will increase their green self-efficacy perceptions. Particularly, the high green self-efficacy perceptions of academics will directly influence students and subsequently serve as a positive example to other academics.

The aim of this study is to statistically evaluate the green self-efficacy perceptions of 550 academics working at Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa in terms of demographic factors. The "Green Self-Efficacy Scale" developed by Chen et al. (2014) was used in the study. As the results of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk normality tests were p>0.05, a normal distribution was achieved. Independent samples t-test was used for comparisons between two groups, and one-way ANOVA test was used for comparisons among more than two groups. According to the analysis results, the green self-efficacy perceptions of female academics, those aged between 20-30, those who are married and have children, and those working in social sciences were found to be significantly higher. In this case, it is important for universities to organize activities that will increase awareness levels, provide in-house training, and hold workshops for academic groups whose green self-efficacy perceptions are not high.

Keywords:

Green Self-Efficacy, Sustainable Behaviors, Academicians, Statistical Analysis.