Self-construal types and organizational citizenship behavior for the environment of employees in a university

Purpose In researching into workplace pro-environmental behaviors, there is sparse evidence on self-construals with dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior for the environment (OCBE), particularly among university employees. To fill this gap, the purpose of the study is to investigate the associations of self-construals with eco-civic engagement, eco-helping and eco-initiatives among 256 (men = 139 and women = 117) employees of a University. Design/methodology/approach Through the use of cross-sectional survey method, data were collected to investigate theoretically deduced hypotheses. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the hypotheses. Findings Results showed that independent self-construal was positively associated with eco-civic engagement, beta = 0.25, t = 2.55, p < 0.01, eco-helping, beta = 0.42, t = 4.51, p < 0.01 and eco-initiatives, beta = 0.36, t = 3.73, p < 0.01, whereas interdependent self-construal had significant positive relationship with eco-civic engagement only, beta = 0.27, t = 2.73, p < 0.01. Research limitations/implications Future research can manipulate self-construal and collect observational data on eco-civic engagement, eco-helping and eco-initiatives. The findings should be further developed using larger samples among other higher education institutions (HEIs). Practical implications This study provides a basis that self-construction can influence OCBE, particularly, focusing on independence can drive engagement in eco-civic engagement, eco-helping and eco-initiatives while focusing on interdependence can motivate engagement in eco-civic engagement. The findings may guide future development of workplace environmental sustainability programs and policies to aid university managers, practitioners, organizers and promoters of environmental sustainability on the university campuses. Originality/value The findings contribute to environmental sustainability literature in HEIs by providing information on the usefulness of self-construal types in motivating employee participation in OCBE.