Examination of the Factor Structure of the NEP Scale：Analysis of Survey Data in Japan

This study explores the factor structure of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale, a widely used measure of environmental awareness, by analyzing data from web surveys that we conducted in Japan in 2015 and 2023. Both surveys involved 2,500 respondents, selected to reflect the population distribution by prefecture, gender, and age. This research provides insight into evolving environmental perceptions in Japan over time.

The NEP scale typically identifies a two- or three-factor structure. The 2015 survey revealed a three-factor structure: recognition of environmental limits, belief in human control over nature, and thought in human ingenuity to manage resources sustainably.

In contrast, the 2023 survey found a two-factor structure, which aligns with previous research in Japan. The two-factor model resulted from the redistribution of the items from factor 3 in 2015 survey. For example, the belief that "Human ingenuity will insure that we do NOT make the earth unlivable" contributed to the first factor, while the idea that "The earth has plenty of natural resources if we just learn how to develop them" contributed to the second factor.

Further analysis examined the impact of age, education, and the richness in nature that respondents live on factor structures. In 2015, younger participants (under 50) exhibited a two-factor structure, whereas the overall sample retained the three-factor model. By 2023, the two-factor structure was consistent across all groups, except for older individuals (over 50) in rich nature, who still reflected the three-factor model similar to the one observed in 2015.

These findings suggest that environmental perceptions may evolve over time, influenced by global trends and generational shifts. The two-factor structure appears to be becoming the dominant perspective among younger people in Japan, while older populations in environmentally rich areas maintain a more nuanced, three-factor view.