Understanding the gap between pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours: a study on the acceptance of negative emotions in workers / Comprendiendo la brecha entre actitudes y conductas proambientales: un estudio sobre la aceptación de emociones negativas entre trabajadores

This article investigates the emotional factors influencing the gap between pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours among corporate employees in Italy. Specifically, it examines how empathy (cognitive and affective) and emotional regulation—focusing on the non-acceptance of one's own negative emotions—affect the translation of pro-environmental attitudes into actual behaviours. The study identified two emotional profiles: employees with high cognitive empathy and low emotional dysregulation exhibited more pro-environmental behaviours than those with high affective empathy and higher emotional dysregulation, despite similar attitudes across groups. Additionally, non-acceptance of negative emotions partially moderated the attitude–behaviour relationship, weakening but not eliminating the link between pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. These findings suggest that incorporating emotional regulation strategies, such as acceptance of negative emotions, into workplace interventions may enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of pro-environmental behaviour change programs.