Digital Storytelling for Sustainability Education: Examining Its Impact on Pro-Environmental Behavior
Article Sidebar
-
Digital Storytelling, Environmental Behavior, Environmental Education
Abstract
Background. Narrative communication offers promising alternatives, yet systematic understanding of how digital storytelling specifically promotes sustained pro-environmental behaviors remains underdeveloped.
Purpose. This study investigated whether participatory creation of digital environmental narratives leads to stronger and more sustained pro-environmental behavior change compared to passive narrative consumption or information-based education, while also examining the mediating roles of psychological mechanisms such as narrative transportation and environmental self-efficacy
Method. Mixed-methods experimental design randomly assigned 228 undergraduate students to participatory creation, passive consumption, or information-based control conditions, measuring pro-environmental behaviors, attitudes, self-efficacy, and psychological distance across baseline, immediate post-intervention, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups.
Results. Participatory creation produced significantly greater behavior change (33% increase maintained at 6-month follow-up) compared to passive consumption (12% increase) and control (0% increase). Environmental self-efficacy mediated 61% of participatory creation effects while narrative transportation mediated 73% of passive consumption effects.
Conclusion. This research demonstrates that creating digital environmental narratives produces superior behavior change compared to consuming narratives through distinct psychological mechanisms emphasizing capability-building over persuasion.
Full text article
References
Abdelmeguid, A., Afy-Shararah, M., & Salonitis, K. (2024). Towards circular fashion: Management strategies promoting circular behaviour along the value chain. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 48, 143–156. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.05.010
Andriopoulou, A., Giakoumi, S., Kouvarda, T., Tsabaris, C., Pavlatou, E., & Scoullos, M. (2022). Digital storytelling as an educational tool for scientific, environmental and sustainable development literacy on marine litter in informal education environments (Case study: Hellenic Center for Marine Research). Mediterranean Marine Science, 23(2), 327–337. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.26942
Beach, R., & Smith, B. E. (2023). YOUTH CREATED MEDIA ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS: Hear Our Voices. Dalam Youth Created Media on the Climate Crisis: Hear Our Voices (hlm. 270). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003335276
Campos Ortuño, R. A., Martín-Lucas, J. M., Caballero-Franco, D. C., Ruiz, Á. B., & Villar, L. B. E. (2025). The Delphi Method for Integrating Digital Technology and Nature-Based Learning in Primary Education. Dalam Lect. Notes Educ. Technol.: Vol. Part F642 (hlm. 892–901). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-5658-5_88
Chung, F. M. Y. (2025). Moral and Values Education: Development, Creativity, and Pedagogical Practices. Dalam Moral and Values Educ.: Dev., Creat., and Pedag. Pract. (hlm. 187). Nova Science Publishers, Inc.; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.52305/OTET7235
Dia-Eddine, K. (2021). Digital Storytelling for Tertiary Education in the Era of Digitization: Construction and Evaluation of Two Experiences. Dalam K. Boussafi, J.-P. Mathieu, & M. Hatti (Ed.), Lect. Notes Networks Syst.: Vol. 162 LNNS (hlm. 16–49). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH info@springer-sbm.com; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60933-7_2
Fowler, A., Ruka, T., Dodd, M., Xue, B., & Harvey, M. (2025). Kaiman?ki o te Ngahere: Guardians of the Forest. Dalam M. Sugimoto, A. Di Iorio, P. Figueroa, R. Yamanishi, & K. Matsumura (Ed.), Lect. Notes Comput. Sci.: Vol. 16042 LNCS (hlm. 575–578). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02555-5_47
Gladwin, D. (2020). Digital storytelling going viral: Using narrative empathy to promote environmental action. Media Practice and Education, 21(4), 275–288. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/25741136.2020.1832827
Groshans, G., Mikhailova, E., Post, C., Schlautman, M., Carbajales-Dale, P., & Payne, K. (2019). Digital story map learning for STEM disciplines. Education Sciences, 9(2). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci9020075
Guo, S.-C. (2021). Utilizing digital storytelling to foster pupil’s language and environmental awareness and action. Dalam M. Chang, N.-S. Chen, D. G. Sampson, & A. Tlili (Ed.), Proc. - IEEE Int. Conf. Adv. Learn. Technol., ICALT (hlm. 288–290). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICALT52272.2021.00093
Gutting, R., Hübsch, B., Meinel, G., & Wende, W. (2019). Spatial storytelling in man and environment education – Possibilities and limitations of the ESRI „Story Maps“ editorial system. Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung, 51(8), 382–388. Scopus.
Henderson, L. (2025). EastEnders and the environment: Communicating the planetary crisis in prime time? Critical Studies in Television, 20(3), 331–345. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/17496020251340359
Karimova, G., Ishanov, P., Mukanova, S., Odintsova, S., & Aratayeva, A. (2023). The Effects of Using Digital Stories and Media in Foreign Language Teaching. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, 11(5), 1113–1130. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijemst.3599
Koong Lin, H.-C., Lu, R.-S., & Wang, T.-H. (2025). Writing Is Coding for Sustainable Futures: Reimagining Poetic Expression Through Human–AI Dialogues in Environmental Storytelling and Digital Cultural Heritage. Sustainability (Switzerland), 17(15). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157020
Korson, C., Beban, A., Ashley, N., & Stanley, R. (2022). The Spatial Awareness Project: A Co-Created Interdisciplinary Educational Film and Podcast. Geohumanities, 8(2), 620–629. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/2373566X.2022.2041457
Kremer, D., Pappenberger-Muench, N., Fuchs, M., Jelinski, S., Feulner, B., & Walker, B. B. (2024). Rendering Cliché? Visual Consumption of Video Games as Virtual-Space Leisure Activities. Dalam Key Chall. Geogr.: Vol. Part F3465 (hlm. 137–158). Springer International Publishing; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42260-7_7
Lin, C.-L., & Liu, F.-J. (2025). Engaging Young Children in Dialogue with Their Hometown: A Design-Based Curriculum Integrating Eco-Museum Concept into Localized Early Childhood Education. International Journal of Early Childhood Learning, 32(2), 73–99. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-7939/CGP/v32i02/73-99
Lu, R.-S., Lin, H.-C. K., Yang, Y.-C., & Chen, Y.-P. (2024). Integrating Urban Mining Concepts Through AI-Generated Storytelling and Visuals: Advancing Sustainability Education in Early Childhood. Sustainability (Switzerland), 16(24). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411304
Marpelina, L., Sariyatun, S., & Andayani, A. (2025). Rethinking Ecopedagogy in Web-Based History Learning: A Critical Examination of Its Impact on Students’ Ecoliteracy. Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 7(2), 773–788. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15599671
Modi, S., Gupta, T., & Rahmatullah, M. (2024). Digital Storytelling as a Tool for Global Citizenship and Sustainability: Enhancing Cross-Cultural Understanding in Education. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 13(Special Issue 1), 65–104. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.32674/s817ax14
Nopas, D.-S. (2025). ‘Moo-Deng made me visit’: Viral wildlife fame as a driver of tourism engagement and hospitality strategy. Current Issues in Tourism. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2025.2528111
Ogolla, P. A., & Jenson, J. A. (2023). THINKING AHEAD COLLECTIVELY: The case of African Digital Futures. Dalam The Routledge Handb. Of Collective Intelligence for Democracy and Gov. (hlm. 428–437). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003215929-42
Palomino-Gámez, S., Guillén-Beltran, F., & Vazquez-Parra, J. C. (2025). Promoting Environmental Awareness Through Narrative-Based AI: An Educational Innovation in Higher Education for Water Sustainability. International Journal of Sustainability Policy and Practice, 22(1), 1–26. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-1166/CGP/v22i01/1-26
Parra-Sánchez, D. T. (2025). Digital pathways to nature-based tourism in Río de Oro (Cesar, Colombia): Community, territory, and ecosystem assets for sustainable development. Journal of Ecotourism. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2025.2567367
Seemann, J., Segal, Z., & Vannieuwenhuyze, B. (2020). Introduction. Motion in Maps, Maps in Motion: Mapp. Stories and Mov. through Time, 13–31. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.5117/9789463721103
Short, M. E., & Engel, L. C. (2019). Sixty Seconds Above Sixty Degrees: Connecting Arctic and Non-Arctic Classrooms in the Age of Climate Change. Dalam Climate Change Manag. (hlm. 419–434). Springer; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32898-6_24
Tramonti, M., Dochshanov, A. M., & Casadio, F. (2023). Digital Storytelling Approach for Environmental Challenges and the Early School Leaving Prevention. Dalam D. Paneva-Marinova, P. Stanchev, P. Stanchev, R. Pavlov, & D. Luchev (Ed.), Digit. Present. Preserv. Cult. Sci. Herit. (Vol. 13, hlm. 283–288). Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.55630/dipp.2023.13.28
Tramonti, M., Dochshanov, A. M., & Tramonti, L. (2024). Empowering Digital Storytelling: Fostering Environmental Awareness and Inspiring Sustainable Action Across Cultures and Generations. Dalam D. Paneva-Marinova, P. Stanchev, P. Stanchev, R. Pavlov, & D. Luchev (Ed.), Digit. Present. Preserv. Cult. Sci. Herit. (Vol. 14, hlm. 45–52). Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.55630/dipp.2024.14.3
Venkateswarlu, B. (2025). Language and Oral Literature in Tribal Knowledge Dissemination. Dalam Tribal Knowl. Systems: Tracing the Roots (hlm. 28–46). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003677529-3
Verissimo, D., Fiennes, S., & Dunn, M. (2024). Using digital mobile games to increase the support for nature conservation. Conservation Science and Practice, 6(11). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13236
Wint, N. (2023). Why do students choose to study on engineering foundation year programmes within the UK? European Journal of Engineering Education, 48(1), 157–179. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2022.2047895
Zhu, D., Al Mahmud, A., & Liu, W. (2023). Social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment: Barriers and recommendations. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1188887
Zuccotti, G., Calcaterra, V., Conti, F., Ciriello, U., Pagani, V., Bhadur, K., Martins de Abreu, R., Corbellini, C., Pérez Rodero, L., Bonillo-León, R., Escudero-Marin, M., Campoy, C., Conca Bonizzoni, S., Carnevale Pellino, V., Marin, L., Vandoni, M., Labati, L., Tosi, M., Fiore, G., … Verduci, E. (2025). Educational cartoon as an edutainment strategy to combat pediatric obesity: An innovative proposal from the PODiaCar Project. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 51(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-02082-9
