Evaluating Mountaineers’ Attitudes towards Environment by Using the New Environmental Paradigm Scale

The aim of this study is to determine the environmental attitudes and sensitivity levels of the mountaineers by the New Environmental Paradigm. The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the “New Ecological Paradigm Scale” and compare the effects of the mountaineers on individuals’ environmental attitudes. 112 male (Mage= 29.44± 8.91) and 46 female (Mage= 25.86± 7.47) totally 158 in the people doing mountaineering sports to this study. Principle Component factor analysis was performed with 15 items in order to identify the underlying dimensions of the “New Ecological Paradigm Scale” (NEP). The loading matrix supported 4 factor (possibility of eco-crisis, anti-anthropocentrism, fragility of nature’s balance, technological precedence) structure and 13 items explains 60 % of variance. The Cronbach alfa reliability coefficients of the scale is α=.65. It can be concluded that the NEP is a reliable and valid instrument to assess the environmental attitudes of mountaineers. Data analyses revealed that considerable environmental concern exists among the respondents