How does sustainable water consumption in the shower relate to different dimensions of perceived well-being? Empirical evidence from university students

Abstract

Water scarcity is already a worrying issue and it is predicted to get worse in the future. This creates an imperative to use water efficiently and sustainably. In the domestic sphere, one of the main uses of water is showering, not only for hygiene reasons but also as a wellness activity. In order to gain insight into the implications of sustainable shower use, in this paper we analyse the relationship between subjective well-being and water consumption in the shower. We thus provide the first quantitative evidence on water consumption and subjective well-being taking into account a specific use of this resource. Specifically, we aim to answer the following questions: 1) How does shower water consumption relate to subjective well-being, 2) Does this relationship with subjective well-being differ depending on showering habits (time spent in the shower, and number of showers per week), and 3) Does this relationship differ depending on the season (winter and summer). The dataset contains information on 937 students from different disciplines at the University of Granada, Spain. The different interpretations of subjective well-being considered are life satisfaction, affect, and vitality. Results suggest that there is a negative relationship between water consumption and subjective well-being, in line with the literature that identifies a well-being dividend from green behaviour (being pro-environmental helps the environment and increases happiness). All subjective well-being dimensions are negatively related to time spent in the shower, regardless of the season. In contrast, the frequency of showering is not significantly related to well-being. Therefore, it appears that higher water consumption does not translate into higher perceived well-being, indicating that there is no conflict between efficient shower water use and individual well-being.