When mitigation behaviors have co-benefits they can be relevant to health psychology. Co-beneficial behaviors both lessen the harmful impact on the environment, while directly improving personal health. 

Ex. Walking/bicycling instead of driving can decrease greenhouse gas emissions, all the while improving air quality and levels of physical activity. 

Mitigation behaviors from a health psychology perspective

Behaviors that help reduce adverse impact people have on their environment. Lifestyle changes such as walking rather then driving,  engaging in recycling and the use of safe sanitation all work towards mitigation of harmful effects.  



Syracuse University

Health psychology can offer significant insights into promoting and advancing environmental health through education and enhancement of our understanding of pro-environmental behavior. In addition, applications of health behavior change models attempt to explain pro-environmental behavior (mitigation behaviors), while integrating health and environmental psychology could expand behaviors that seek to prevent the negative effects of environmental issues on human health (adaptation behaviors). Both fields are involved in explaining mitigation & adaptation behaviors.

Health psychology's impact on environmental health

Inauen, J., Contzen, N., Frick, V., Kadel, P., Keller, J., Kollmann, J., Mata, J., & van Valkengoed, A. M. (2021). Environmental issues are health issues: Making a case and setting an agenda for environmental health psychology. European Psychologist, 26(3), 219–229. https://doi-org.libezproxy2.syr.edu/10.1027/1016-9040/a000438

Environmental Issues Are Health
Issues: Making a Case and Setting an Agenda for Environmental
Health Psychology

Explains health behaviors (taking vaccinations) and pro-environmental behaviors (preserving wildlife/clean air quality) by addressing risk factors. 

Protection motivation theory

Mitigation behaviors

Behaviors that can be conceptualized as health behaviors, wherein people avoid harmful effects of the environment by adapting to environmental issues. These behaviors can be categorized into three groups: 1. Information seeking 2. Preparative actions 3. Protective actions

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