Sustainability Consciousness and Cooperative Mindset Among Secondary Education Students: A Multilevel Study

Abstract

Sustainability consciousness refers to an individual's knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and social behaviors in relation to the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability. Using a multilevel modeling approach, this cross-sectional study examines the influence of cooperative mindset on sustainability consciousness among secondary education students, exploring in addition whether gender plays a moderator role in this relationship. The sample comprised 2090 students aged between 14 and 19 years who were enrolled in a total of 51 secondary schools in the Basque Country (northern Spain). Participants completed the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire–Short version and the Cooperative Mindset Scale. Results indicated that cooperative mindset is a positive predictor of sustainability consciousness and also of its three specific components: knowingness, attitudes, and behavior. Gender also emerged as a significant predictor of sustainability consciousness, insofar as girls scored higher on knowingness and attitudes, although not on behavior. These findings highlight the need to incorporate prosocial and cooperative approaches into teaching and learning on sustainability, while also developing strategies to address gender differences in education for sustainable development.