Investigation of university students' environmental problems perception and ecological footprint awareness levels by econometric model: The case of Adana province

Humanity has increasingly impacted the environment due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and population growth. This situation has led to severe ecological problems such as excessive use of natural resources and environmental pollution. Particularly in recent years, the concept of the ecological footprint has emerged as a significant indicator of environmental sustainability. This study aims to examine the environmental awareness and ecological behavior levels of university students in Adana province. The research was conducted with 349 participants, and the data were evaluated using the Ecological Intelligence Scale and the Ecological Footprint Awareness Scale. A binary logistic regression analysis method was employed in the study. In addition, factor analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for a more detailed examination of the data. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 statistical software program. The factor analysis results revealed that environmental awareness is grouped under seven sub-dimensions, with particular emphasis on components such as environmental sensitivity, global impact awareness, and energy conservation. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests showed that environmental awareness levels differed significantly according to variables such as faculty, grade level, age, and income level. It was determined that students from the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS) exhibited lower awareness levels, while individuals aged 25 and above demonstrated higher levels of awareness. The logistic regression analysis indicated that variables such as perception of environmental degradation, energy conservation awareness, and local consumption awareness positively influence ecological behaviors. The findings underscore the critical importance of disseminating environmental education and enhancing energy conservation awareness for environmental sustainability. This study highlights the importance of environmental education in raising the environmental awareness levels of university students in Adana province. It recommends the development of more environment-focused education programs at universities. Environmental education should be integrated into the curriculum and supported by practical activities alongside theoretical knowledge to enable individuals to adopt environmentally friendly lifestyles. Projects focusing on local environmental issues should be implemented through collaborations between universities and local governments to foster students' connection to their surroundings and encourage sustainable consumption habits. Additionally, environment-focused volunteer projects could increase students' individual responsibilities regarding sustainability while allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice. Developing policies to raise environmental awareness at the national level, promoting sustainability-focused programs across all levels of education, and enhancing international cooperation to address global environmental issues would play a critical role in reducing ecological footprints. Keywords: Ecological footprint, environmental ıssues, Adana, university students, logit model