Antecedents of mobile e-waste recycling behaviour: A study of planned intentions and direct behavioural triggers among adolescents and young Indian adults

This study investigates the psychological pathways influencing mobile e-waste recycling behaviour among adolescents and young Indian adults (AYAs), a critical issue given the nation’s rising volume of electronic waste. We examine the mediating role of recycling intention in the relationship between key psychological antecedents – environmental concerns (EC), normative interpersonal influence (NII), perceived psychological obsolescence (PPO) and information security risk perception (ISRP) – and actual recycling behaviour utilising the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Using survey data from 368 AYAs, a generalized linear model mediation analysis with 5000 bootstrap resamples was conducted. The results revealed distinct operational pathways for different predictors. EC was found to significantly predict recycling intention in a partially mediated relationship that also included a direct effect on behaviour. Conversely, NII, PPO and ISRP did not significantly predict recycling intention; instead, they exerted a significant direct positive influence on subsequent recycling behaviour. Theoretically, this research reveals a dual-pathway mechanism within an extended TPB: Value-based constructs operate via planned intentions, while pragmatic factors (social cues, obsolescence, security risks) directly trigger behaviour. Practically, the findings explain the prevalent e-waste hoarding phenomenon in India as a rational, security-driven response. This identifies direct behavioural triggers, alongside intention, as key targets for future interventions.