Examining the Relationship between Perceived Environmental Identity and Pro-Environmental Behaviors among Students at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background: Individuals with a strong environmental identity are deeply connected to and dependent on the natural world, which influences their perceptions of both nature and themselves.This study aims to examine the relationship between perceived environmental identity and pro-environmental behaviors among students at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences.Methods: In 2024, a descriptive study was conducted involving 453 students from Zanjan University of Medical Sciences.Data were collected using an online questionnaire assessing environmental identity and pro-environmental behaviors and were analyzed using SPSS version 23.A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered.Results: In the present study, 53% of the participants were male.The mean score for environmental identity was 81.34 ± 14.36, while the mean score for pro-environmental behaviors was 56.52 ± 16.96 on a scale of 100.A statistically significant correlation was found between environmental identity and pro-environmental behaviors (r = 0.552, p < 0.001).Female participants had significantly higher mean scores in both proenvironmental behaviors and environmental identity (p < 0.05).The educational level also showed a significant relationship with pro-environmental behaviors and environmental identity (p < 0.05).Conclusion: While students exhibited a strong environmental identity, their proenvironmental behaviors were average.Health authorities should identify the barriers to these behaviors and design and implement awareness campaigns to enhance environmental health literacy among students.