The Role of Attitude, Social Norms, and Perceived Control in Leave No Trace Intentions among Hikers at Gunung Tahan, Malaysia

Abstract

This study investigates the socio-psychological factors influencing Malaysian hikers’ intentions to adopt Leave No Trace (LNT) practices at Gunung Tahan, Peninsular Malaysia’s highest national park peak. Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the guiding framework, this study examines the role of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control in predicting hikers’ intentions to practice LNT behaviors. A quantitative survey was carried out to 278 hikers using a validated questionnaire. Findings reveal varying levels of awareness and misconceptions regarding specific LNT principles. While many respondents showed alignment with land management recommendations on several practices (M < 2.62), significant gaps were observed in understanding waste disposal and considerate behavior. Specifically, 55% of hikers incorrectly perceived leaving food scraps for wildlife as appropriate (M = 4.64), and 61% considered taking breaks along the trail edge as suitable (M = 5.48). MANOVA results indicate that demographic factors—gender, hiking experience, and climber skills—significantly influence attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions. Hiking experience showed the strongest effect (η² = .21–.26), followed by gender (η² = .24–.25), and climber skills (η² = .14). Interaction effects among these factors were also significant, indicating that these demographic characteristics collectively shape hikers’ environmentally responsible behaviors. Stepwise multiple regression analysis confirmed that attitude (β = .377, p < .001), subjective norm (β = .139, p < .001), and perceived behavioral control (β = .240, p = .004) together explained 53.8% of the variance in behavioral intention (R² = .538). The results underscore the importance of integrating social influence, personal agency, and demographic tailoring into LNT education strategies. These findings offer practical insights for environmental educators, park managers, and policymakers seeking to enhance environmental stewardship among Malaysia’s growing outdoor recreation community.