Environmental Concern and Consumption Behaviours among Eco-Recreationists: A Demographic Segmentation Application for Outdoor Sports Participants

This study aims to examine the levels of environmental concern and environmentally conscious consumer behaviour among individuals engaged in outdoor sports, within the framework of a demographic segmentation approach. The sample of the research consists of 221 professional and serious leisure-level outdoor sports participants from various regions in Turkey involved in different types of outdoor sports. Data were collected through an online survey using the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) and Environmentally Conscious Consumer Behavior (ECCB) scales. Statistical analyses, including independent samples t-test, ANOVA, correlation, multiple regression, and two-step cluster analysis, were conducted using SPSS software. The findings indicate that participation in outdoor sports supports both environmental concern and environmentally conscious consumption tendencies. According to multiple regression analysis, environmental concern and age significantly predict environmentally conscious consumer behaviour, whereas demographic factors such as income and education have limited effects. Two-step cluster analysis revealed that individuals over the age of 30 with higher income and education levels are more willing to engage in environmentally friendly consumption. The results demonstrate that outdoor sports play a significant role in shaping environmental attitudes; however, the phenomenon of the “green gap” between attitudes and behaviours persists.