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Spillover effects are considered important in evaluating the impacts of food, energy and water (FEW) conservation behaviors for limiting global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Failure to account for all possible spillovers, or indirect and unintended results of an intervention, not only obscures valuable information pertaining to the dynamic interactions across domains but also results in biased estimates. In this study, we first systematically reviewed articles that investigate the idea that the performance of one pro-environmental behavior influences the conduct of subsequent behaviors(s) from the FEW domains. From our review of 48 studies in the last decade, we note that a big part of the discussion on spillover concerns the nature and direction of causal relationships between individual FEW conservation behaviors. We identify a critical gap in the literature regarding the distinction between spillover effects caused by the interventions as distinct from those caused by the primary behaviors. Next, we conducted a quantitative meta-analysis of the reviewed empirical studies to find a modest but overall positive spillover effect. Finally, we reviewed the theoretical and methodological plurality in the FEW spillover literature using a systemic thinking lens to summarize what is already known and identify future challenges and research opportunities with significant policy implications.

Do institutions shape the possibility of sustaining cooperation when the same individuals must first divide resources and then attempt to cooperate? It could be that simply having received an inequitable division undermines cooperative behavior, reducing aggregate welfare. Alternatively, it might be that only when interacting with the same individual or group does this spillover occur, in which case separating tasks across institutions may prevent this negative spillover. To test these arguments, we designed a two-stage incentivized experiment in which participants interact in a division task and then in a task in which cooperation improves aggregate welfare. In two experiments, individuals were randomly assigned to interact either with the same individual for both tasks or with a different individual for each task. In the second experiment, individuals could also interact with a person who was in the same arbitrary group as their partner in the division task. Holding constant both past history and past partner behavior, the results of these experiments provide support for a Partner History effect in which the mechanism that produces spillover is interacting with the same individual in both decisions. We also find evidence for a weaker Group History effect in which negative spillover occurs when the partner in the cooperative task is a member of the same group as the partner from the division task.

Amid escalating global water scarcity and growing emphasis on demand-side interventions for sustainable resource use, understanding how consumers’ virtual water cognition can drive food–water resource conservation is critical for strengthening sustainable resource governance. Through a questionnaire survey, this study constructed a Food–Water Behavior Synergy Model to explore the relationship among consumers’ virtual water cognition and food-conservation behavior, water-conservation behavior, and food–water synergistic cognition in China. Results show that virtual water cognition significantly increased food-conservation behavior (β = 0.158, p < 0.001) and WCB (β = 0.064, p < 0.001). Food–water synergistic cognition also positively affected food-conservation behavior (β = 0.099, p < 0.001) and water-conservation behavior (β = 0.035, p < 0.01), consistent with the knowledge–action framework. The magnitudes of these effects differed across subgroups (gender, education level, major, region, and urban–rural residence). Virtual water cognition did not significantly enhance food–water synergistic cognition (β = 0.006, p = 0.758), providing empirical evidence of a knowledge–action gap. There was a strong direct effect of food-conservation behavior on water-conservation behavior (β = 0.498, p < 0.001), and there was evidence that food-conservation behavior mediated the indirect paths from both virtual water cognition and food–water synergistic cognition to water-conservation behavior. Implementing consumer-oriented contextual interventions—such as differentiated educational guidance and water-footprint labeling—would be conducive to translating theoretical knowledge into practical action.

Considering sustainable consumption not just as an exercise of individual choice but a shared and collective activity, this study explores the role of conscious and responsible consumption initiatives (CRCIs) driving citizens’ adoption of sustainable lifestyles. This research followed a qualitative approach, combining documentary research and twenty-six in-depth interviews with practitioners in eight grassroots consumer initiatives located in Galicia (Spain). The results show that CRCIs favor members’ consumption of organic, seasonal, fair, and locally produced food. The findings also reveal that engagement in these initiatives nurtures three interconnected types of learning—cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral—which contribute to wider adoption of sustainable practices related to shifts in dietary habits, energy use, mobility, and frugality. CRCIs facilitate gradual transitions toward reduced meat consumption, favoring the intake of plant-based foods, and greater self-efficacy in preparing sustainable meals. These behavioral changes are incremental, motivated by inner reflection, practical experience, and consciousness around alternative economic models. However, the consistent adoption of sustainable eating habits is hindered by cultural and psychological barriers like cultural traditions, entrenched habits, and time constraints. In conclusion, these grassroots initiatives are interesting entry points for engaging citizens in sustainable lifestyles, becoming also gateways to the broader social and solidarity economy movement.

Background: Influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations play a crucial role in disease prevention among older adults and are recommended to older adults aged 60 years and over in China, but the vaccination rates are suboptimal. Behavioral spillover indicates that a change in one behavior may lead to changes in other related behaviors. Objective: Based on the Behavioral Spillover Theory, this study aimed to investigate the association between influenza vaccination history and pneumococcal vaccination intention, as well as the mediating role of negative attitudes toward general vaccination among older adults in China. Method: A multi-center cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1031 older adults, and 658 participants (median age: 65.0 ± 9.0 years) who had not received pneumococcal vaccination were included in the analysis. Correlation analysis and path analysis were performed. Results: A significant positive association was observed between influenza vaccination history and pneumococcal vaccination intention (r = 0.167, p < 0.001). In contrast, negative attitudes toward general vaccination, including mistrust of vaccine benefits (r = −0.253, p < 0.001), worries about unforeseen future effects (r = −0.180, p < 0.001), concerns about commercial profiteering (r = −0.360, p < 0.001), and a preference for natural immunity (r = −0.212, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with pneumococcal vaccination intention. Negative attitudes toward general vaccination mediated the association between influenza vaccination history and pneumococcal vaccination intention (total indirect effect = 0.119, p < 0.001, effect size = 50.0%). Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that influenza vaccination history may reduce negative attitudes toward general vaccination, which may further increase pneumococcal vaccination intention, indicating spillover effects of influenza vaccination history. To promote vaccination behavior among older adults, addressing negative attitudes toward general vaccination is crucial.

Motivated by proposed Carbon Dividend legislation in the U.S., we test the impacts of a monetary windfall on sustainability behavior under information conditions about the source of the funds. We find that windfall funds, particularly when presented as a refund, positively impact stated intent to engage in transportation-related sustainable behaviors. Evidence suggests that participants are sensitive to compensation amounts, where a higher compensation amount led to a higher rate of sustainable behavior intention. We also find a small positive spillover effect from individuals who intend to spend the windfall on transportation-related activities and their stated future sustainable behavior, although results are driven by differences across participants' source of environmental motivation. Socio-demographics may partially explain this result. A connection to the environment, either through previous donations or employment, or a belief in human-induced climate change, produced higher declarations for pro-environmental behavior. Our results provide important insights into the indirect behavioral effects of a (carbon fee) dividend, and provide avenues for future research.

Individuals have opportunities to behave pro-socially at different points in time. This study investigates the interdependence between temporarily separated good deeds and their effect on individual pro-social behavior. In a multi-session laboratory experiment, subjects play a donation dictator game. The first group of subjects runs through two sessions on the same day. For the second group, there is a time-lag of one week between sessions. In both treatments, subjects decrease their donation decision in the second session. Spillover effects of pro-social behavior, however, decrease over time as the reduction in donations is smaller for subjects with larger time-lag between decisions.

Outdoor recreationists represent a key population to educate for pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Given that previous research has found a mixed relationship between outdoor recreation and PEB, this research merges several concepts to better understand the social psychological nuances of this relationship. Specifically, this study explores how specialization regarding environmentally responsible outdoor recreation is related to other PEBs through a behavioral spillover framework. A correlational structural equation model was utilized to test this framework within a merged population of individuals from the Leave No Trace organization and general United States citizens. The results suggested that traditional behavioral spillover dynamics held for private PEBs but not public PEBs. However, recreation specialization was significantly related to both PEB types. These results suggest that the current behavioral spillover theory may only explain the relationship between some PEBs. Furthermore, environmentally responsible outdoor recreation specialization may be a promising pathway toward a spillover into encouraging private and public PEBs.

Abstract Individual behavior change offers a large potential to curb greenhouse gas emissions. However, messaging promoting individual behavior change has been criticized as a strategy for addressing climate change due to its potential to diminish climate policy support. In a pre-registered study with a representative sample of American adults (n = 1069), we found that messages recommending the adoption of high-impact individual climate behaviors, such as flying less, eating less meat and reducing food waste, and highlighting their large impact do not affect support for a carbon tax. In an exploratory analysis, we found that this messaging results in a higher intention to adopt several climate behaviors. We recommend that interventions that advocate for individual climate action be best understood as complements, rather than undermining substitutes, to broad carbon regulatory policy.

In this study, we use a novel design to test for directional behavioral spillover and cognitive load effects in a set of multiple repeated games. Specifically, in our experiment, each subject plays a common historical game with two different matches for 100 rounds. After 100 rounds, the subject switches to a new game with one match and continues playing the historical game with the other match. This design allows us to identify the direction of any behavioral spillover. Our results show that participants exhibit both behavioral spillover and cognitive load effects. First, for pairs of Prisoners’ Dilemma and Alternation games, we find that subjects apply strategies from the historical game when playing the new game. Second, we find that those who participate in a Self Interest game as either their historical or new game achieve Pareto efficient outcomes more often in the Prisoners’ Dilemma and Alternation games compared to their control counterparts. Overall, our results show that, when faced with a new game, participants use strategies that reflect both behavioral spillover and cognitive load effects.