Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System

Predictive Factors of Waste Separation Behavior in Housewives in Shushtar City: An Application of Value-Belief-Norm Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Leila Ghahramani 1
khadijeh jafarpour 2
masoud karimi 2
Zahra derakhshan 2

1 Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 shiraz-, Department of Health Education and Promotion

10.30476/jhsss.2025.107549.2077
Abstract
Introduction: Waste management is a critical issue in urban planning, posing a significant challenge for modern societies. As populations grow and urbanization increases, the volume of waste generated also rises, putting pressure on existing infrastructure and ecosystems. Therefore, this research was designed and implemented to investigate the predictors of waste separation behavior among housewives based on the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) Theory.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on housewives living in Shoushtar city, Khuzestan province, Iran. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire developed based on the Value-Belief-Norm Theory. The data were analyzed using SPSS 28 and AMOS 28 software at a significance level of p<0.05. Pearson’s correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling were employed for data analysis. Ethical Consideration: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (IR.SUMS.SCHEANUT.REC.1402.119).
Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.10±9.93 years. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed significant correlations between waste separation behavior and the constructs of the 
Value-Belief-Norm Theory. The strongest correlations were observed with altruistic values (r=0.344, p<0.001) and intention (r=0.435, p<0.001). However, egoistic values, biospheric altruism, 
the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP), and descriptive norms did not significantly affect behavior. The proposed model explained 37% of the variance in waste separation behaviors.
Conclusion: The results suggest that the VBN theory framework is useful in predicting waste separation behaviors. Among the constructs, human altruism, awareness of consequences (AC), 
personal norms (PN), injunctive norms, and intention were identified as the most important predictors of adherence to waste separation behaviors.

Highlights

Khadijeh Jafarpour (Google Scholar)

Leila Ghahremani (Google Scholar)

Keywords

Waste Management
Health Behavior
Value-Belief-Norm Theory
Waste Separation
Housewives
Environmental Health
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Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System
Volume 14, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 229-236

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