Percepción de la conservación del agua en estudiantes universitarios de Tamaulipas, México. Un análisis interdisciplinario

Abstract

Objective: to explore the college students’ perception related to water scarcity and conservation in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Methodology: a mixed design with an exploratory approach is used. A questionnaire was administrated to 457 individuals in the northern, central and southern areas of Tamaulipas. Results: the college students’ great concern about water scarcity is demonstrated due it affects their daily lives and their families’. They have the sense of shared responsibility regarding the problem but they do not make actions to solve it. The environmental awareness is low among the students. Their mental model is related to socio-spatial dimensions and specific hydrological regions. Value: it makes known citizens’ attitudes, values, and behavior in relation to water scarcity and conservation. Limitations: the results are specific to Tamaulipas, although it is possible to apply the same methods to other regions. Conclusions: the perception of water scarcity relates to the microenvironment, from which adaptative behaviors arise. Students’ mental models are made out of direct experiences in their local context, so it is necessary to reinforce the connection of water scarcity to global causes.