Abstract:
The paper analyzes the link between three concepts: environmental values, ecological
behavior, and satisfaction with life. Various studies indicate the links between environmental values
and ecological behavior, satisfaction with life, and pro-ecological behavior, but no connection between
these three concepts. The paper aimed to develop such a research direction, namely sustainability as
an integrative concept. The existence of a complex conceptual model between three specific constructs
is analyzed. A questionnaire to 267 students from the universities of Iasi, Romania, was applied. To
identify the existence of some equations between components, PLS-SEM and PLS-MGA methods
were used, through SmartPLS3.9 and SPSS 18. The final model was a reflective-formative one on two
hierarchical levels, being made up of 5 latent variables and 18 observed ones. Only the existence
of significant equations between knowledge of environmental values and pro-ecological behavior
and between knowledge of environmental values and satisfaction with life was highlighted. The
multi-group analysis: although higher values are obtained among students from the rural compared
to urban, there are no significant differences. The influence of knowledge of environmental values
and ecological behavior on life satisfaction among students was highlighted. The results encourage
the continuation of research on a larger population, from an extended area.
