Drivers of Policy Support and Political Consumerism Behavior Among Water Recreationists

Authors

Mina Kim, University of South CarolinaFollow

Abstract

Individuals who engage in water-based recreation share a distinct bond with water quality due to their direct contact with aquatic environments during leisure activities. Increasing concerns about water quality have led to a rise in research exploring how environmental conditions and perceived risks shape environmental attitudes and conservation actions. However, it remains uncertain whether water recreationists extend their conservation efforts beyond those directly tied to their activities. To explore this issue, the present study investigates whether water-based recreationists in South Carolina support more stringent water management policies and engage in political consumerism behaviors, such as boycotting and buycotting. Data were collected through surveys, and multiple and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Findings indicate that risk perceptions play a crucial role in motivating all three types of conservation behavior. Additionally, age was positively linked to support for stricter water management policies but negatively associated with both boycotting and buycotting behaviors. These results help shed light on the factors influencing these relatively overlooked forms of conservation behavior.

Keywords

risk perceptions, environmental conditions, policy support, political consumerism, boycott, buycott

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Kim, Mina (2025) "Drivers of Policy Support and Political Consumerism Behavior Among Water Recreationists," Proceedings of the Recreation Experience Community Network Research Symposium: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/recnet_proceedings/vol1/iss1/3