Adult resources for sustainability: sustainable behaviours, socio-emotional competencies, well-being, and their relationships across adulthood

The literature has not adequately addressed the significance of individual's inner worlds concerning sustainability. This study focuses on their inner side, particularly social and emotional skills and well-being. The study first examines adult's attitudes and resource patterns. The attention moves to the relationships between socio-emotional competencies, sustainable behaviors, specifically prosocial and pro-environmental behavior, and well-being. In terms of the research variables, our investigations reveal similarities emerge in education level and age, but differences in gender. Correlation analyses show that "empathy with nature" positively correlates with most social and emotional competencies, "prosocial behavior" correlates with social competencies, and "pro-environmental behavior" correlates with self-awareness of strengths. Our research also highlights the importance of the "flourishing well-being perspective" for sustainability. Research findings are interpreted by considering the limited data in the literature and the characteristics of the participants. In the implications, "Education for Sustainability" programs and political discourses are discussed for sustainable development.