Is Generation X the new Civic Generation? An exploratory analysis of social capital, environmental attitudes and behaviours in an Australian community

Abstract

This study investigated generational differences and similarities in social capital, environmental attitudes and behaviours in an affluent Australian community, comparing the Civic Generation (60 years+) with the independent youth of today, the "Generation X-ers" (18-30 years). Interest in social capital, an indicator of community wellbeing succinctly defined as social connectedness, has grown exponentially as researchers link social capital with the success of environmental and sustainable initiatives. Environmental researchers, struggling to encourage individuals and communities to adopt environmentally sustainable behaviours, believe that by fostering social capital, people will be encouraged to act at a community level to preserve the natural environment. Unfortunately, social capital has steadily declined as the Civic Generation has been replaced by generations less involved in the community, creating communities of isolated residents. This study is the first to explicitly test these assumptions, comparing social capital, environmental attitudes and everyday water-usage reported by the youngest and oldest Australian citizens. Unexpectedly, Generation X-ers reported the highest level of social capital, with both generations displaying reasonably high levels of environmentally friendly attitudes and behaviours. The implications and limitations of these unexpected findings are discussed in detail, with the results suggesting that the resurgence of social capital in our research, led by the Generation X-ers, bodes well for both the natural environment and the community.