Introduction: Social capital can influence environmental orientations. This study investigates the relationship between social capital and pro-environmental behaviors among medical sciences students.
Method: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted cross-sectionally during the year 2023-2024. Sampling was done randomly, differentiated by various faculties, and proportional to the sample size. A total of 600 students participated in the study. The inclusion criteria were students enrolled in one of the undergraduate, master's, professional doctoral, or PhD programs at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The data collection tools included the Urban HEART-1 social capital questionnaire and a validated questionnaire on pro-environmental behaviors. Data analysis was performed using the Spearman correlation coefficient and the Kruskal-Wallis test in SPSS-26 software.
Findings: The status of "social capital" and "pro-environmental behaviors" were assessed as weak (49.24 ± 156.96) and moderate (77.13 ± 102.92), respectively, with a positive and significant relationship. The results showed a positive and significant correlation between "individual trust" and "social cohesion-support," with the variable "pro-environmental behaviors" (P-value ≤ 0.05).
Discussion: The positive and significant relationship between social capital and environmental behaviors indicates the potential for increasing social capital to promote more sustainable pro-environmental behaviors. Therefore, developing a comprehensive program to enhance the status of pro-environmental behaviors among students at medical universities in the country, by familiarizing students with new concepts of sustainable development and environmental preservation, will be beneficial.

Keywords: Pro-environmental behaviors, Medical students, Social capital, Individual trust, Social cohesion-support

     

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