ISBN 978-3-8439-5737-3

978-3-8439-5737-3, Reihe Wirtschaftspädagogik

Mona Off
Learning and feeling sustainability: Essays on knowledge, design competence, and emotions in young adults' sustainable consumption

254 Seiten, Dissertation Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (2026), Softcover, A5

Zusammenfassung / Abstract

Driven by global sustainability challenges and the UN’s 2030 Agenda, vocational education is seen as a key lever for societal transformation. Study 1 examines young adults’ knowledge, perceived feasibility, and barriers regarding nine sustainable consumption strategies using the Sustainable Consumption Behavior Cube framework. Based on a mixed-methods online survey of 117 participants, results show that knowledge is well-developed for everyday domains like food and clothing, but limited for disposal-related strategies. While some behaviors are seen as feasible, others (e.g., mobility changes) are hindered by lifestyle preferences and social norms. Key barriers include entrenched habits, lack of information, and price concerns. Participants suggest improved information, more attractive alternatives, and structural support from policymakers and companies as solutions. Study 2 focuses on assessing sustainable design competence in vocational education using cognitive diagnostic models (CDMs). An app-based serious game (“MyBuy”) was developed to measure six cognitive facets of sustainability competence within realistic scenarios. Data from 263 participants reveal heterogeneous competence profiles. The CDM approach allows detailed identification of individual strengths and weaknesses and enables targeted feedback. Study 3 investigates how emotions triggered by awareness-raising videos influence sustainable consumption intentions and behavior, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Using a longitudinal design with 299 young adults, the findings show that videos evoke both positive (e.g., interest) and negative emotions (e.g., guilt, sadness), which significantly affect attitudes, perceived norms, and behavioral control. These factors, in turn, strongly predict intentions and actual behavior. The results highlight that emotions play a crucial dual role: positive emotions enhance motivation, while negative emotions reinforce responsibility.