Influence of attitudes and perceived benefits on the intention to adopt sustainable home gardens among women in rural areas: A structural equation approach

Salinas L.E.C.; Farroñán E.V.R.; Chilicaus G.C.F.; León M.Y.O. · World Development Sustainability (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2026.100321

Resumen

The transition to sustainable food systems is particularly challenging in rural settings where women play a central role in agriculture yet often face constraints in accessing sustainable practices. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study examined whether attitudes toward sustainable agriculture and perceived benefits predict rural women's intention to adopt sustainable home gardens in La Libertad, Peru. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 80 rural women using a validated 15-item questionnaire and analyzed the data with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Attitudes showed the strongest association with adoption intention (β = 0.325, p ' 0.001), while perceived benefits provided an additional significant effect (β = 0.250, p = 0.011), jointly explaining 27.1% of the variance. The findings suggest that intention formation relies on broad evaluative frameworks that integrate environmental, social, and economic considerations. Participatory extension and training programs should therefore strengthen pro-environmental attitudes and make the nutritional, economic, and empowerment benefits of home gardens visible, supporting progress toward SDGs 2, 5, and 12. These findings provide strategic evidence for designing targeted educational interventions that strengthen pro-environmental attitudes and perceived benefits, contributing to the achievement of SDGs 2, 5, and 12 in rural communities.

Instituciones: Universidad César Vallejo