Abstract

Background: Environmental sustainability has emerged as one of the most pressing global concerns of the twenty-first century. Eco-friendly behaviour — encompassing recycling, energy conservation, sustainable purchasing, and waste management — plays a pivotal role in shaping ecological health. This study investigated eco-friendly behaviour and its correlates among young adults (aged 18–29 years) in India. Aim: The study aimed to examine the relationship between environmental awareness and eco-friendly behaviour, determine whether environmental awareness significantly predicts eco-friendly behaviour, and explore the influence of demographic variables — gender, age, residential background, educational attainment, and occupational status — on eco-friendly behaviour. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed. A total of 100 Indian young adults (51 males, 49 females; aged 18–29 years, M = 22.4, SD = 3.1) were recruited through convenience sampling via an online survey platform. The General Ecological Behaviour (GEB) Scale and the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) Scale were the primary measurement instruments. Data were analysed using Pearson correlation, simple linear regression, independent samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Results: Environmental awareness was strongly and positively correlated with eco-friendly behaviour (r = .819, p < .001) and significantly predicted eco-friendly behaviour, accounting for 67.1% of the variance (R² = .671, F(1, 98) = 199.70, p < .001). Gender (p < .05), educational attainment (p < .05), and occupational status (p < .01) significantly influenced eco-friendly behaviour, while age and residential background did not yield significant differences. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of socio-educational factors in shaping pro-environmental behaviour and underscore the need for targeted, demographic-sensitive environmental interventions among young adults in India.