Modeling the impact of information sources and knowledge on the students’ environmental attitudes of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan

Educational institutions, including universities, play a significant role in generating environmental knowledge. Students are regarded as influential and informed individuals, and identifying and explaining their existing environmental attitudes is the first step in training and educating specialized human resources with environmental views. Therefore, the present research aimed to model the influence of information sources and knowledge on the environmental attitude of students studying at the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan. This research was of a descriptive-correlation type. The statistical population of this research includes 1753 agricultural students of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan. Stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment in the educational level (bachelor's, master's and doctoral), the study subjects were selected and information was collected through 161 questionnaires. Statistical tests of Spearman's correlation coefficient and path analysis (structural equation modeling) were used for data processing. The results of structural equation modeling showed that the variables of information sources and knowledge predicted 61% of the changes in the environmental attitude of agricultural students. Given the potential role of information sources and knowledge in shaping the environmental attitudes of agricultural students, it is essential to establish the necessary foundations for increasing their environmental knowledge and awareness through social institutions such as family, mass media (including virtual platforms, the internet, etc.), and by encouraging collective movements and activities focused on environmental conservation. Hosting scientific and public events like conferences and seminars at universities should be facilitated to promote a conducive environmental attitude among students as valuable human resources in society