Can Recreation Specialization Negatively Impact Pro-Environmental Behavior in Hiking Activity? A Self-Interest Motivational View

Are highly specialized hikers really more likely to behave in a pro-environmental manner? By discussing a negative linkage between recreation specialization and pro-environmental behavior, this study tackles a narrowly optimistic view that specialized hikers are always likely to behave pro-environmentally. We examined survey data from South Korean hikers and found that while recreation specialization does not significantly affect attitudes, it negatively affects perceived behavioral control. Further, all types of pro-environmental behavior were significantly impacted by their attitude, but only one pro-environmental behavior (i.e., following designated trails) was strongly impacted by perceived behavioral control. By synthesizing our findings with current literature, we suggest comprehensively evaluating all three motivational factors—self-interest, prosocial, and affective motivations—to predict pro-environmental behavior.