The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a Chinese-Mandarin version of the revised new ecological paradigm (NEP-R) scale. In a sample of 515 Mandarin-speaking Chinese nationals, we first assessed the factor structure and internal consistency of the NEP-R and assessed its validity by examining associations with global warming risk perceptions and mitigation behavior. Respondents completed the NEP-R scale, together with measures of risk perception and mitigation behavior. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a two-factor solution, reflecting ecocentric and anthropocentric worldviews, best fit the data. Multi-group path analysis revealed that respondents with stronger ecocentric and weaker anthropocentric worldviews perceived more risks associated with global warming. In turn, respondents who perceived more risks reported engaging in more global warming mitigation behaviors. But importantly, the path between risk perceptions and behavior was significantly stronger for highly educated respondents than for less educated respondents, suggesting that education may represent an important strategy for bridging the gap between perceived risks about global warming and action.

The thesis had 3 main objectives: 1. To determine which cultural worldview dimensions were the strongest predictors of environmental risk perceptions, and whether the magnitude of these predictive relationships varied as a function of hazard type, sample composition, study location and worldview measure. This objective was accomplished by conducting a meta-analysis of the cultural theory and environmental risk perception literature. 2. To determine the suitability of three prominent worldview measures for explaining climate change risk perceptions and responses in a Chinese sample. This objective was accomplished using a large online survey of Chinese respondents, in conjunction with exploratory/confirmatory factor analyses and mediation analyses. 3. To assess the effectiveness of a climate change efficacy building intervention, based on Witte's Extended Parallel Processing Model (Witte, Meyer, & Marttell, 2012) in eliciting adaptive responses to climate change, and whether the intervention's effectiveness varied as function of participants' environmental worldviews. This objective was accomplished through a large experimental study in which Chinese respondents were randomly assigned to either a high threat - low efficacy or high threat - high efficacy climate change message. Moderation and mediation analyses evaluated the impact of the intervention on efficacy and message engagement/disengagement.