The role of psychological ownership in safe water management : a mixed-methods study in Nepal

Ambühl, Benjamin; Tomberge, Vica Maria Jelena; Kunwar, Bal Mukunda; Schertenleib, Ariane; Marks, Sara J.; Inauen, Jennifer

doi:10.3390/w13050589

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-28956

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	The role of psychological ownership in safe water management : a mixed-methods study in Nepal
Authors:	Ambühl, Benjamin Tomberge, Vica Maria Jelena Kunwar, Bal Mukunda Schertenleib, Ariane Marks, Sara J. Inauen, Jennifer
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.3390/w13050589 10.21256/zhaw-28956
Published in:	Water
Volume(Issue):	13
Issue:	5
Page(s):	589
Issue Date:	2021
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	MDPI
ISSN:	2073-4441
Language:	English
Subjects:	Nepal; Participation; Psychological ownership; Sustainability
Subject (DDC):	150: Psychology 363: Environmental and security problems
Abstract:	Long-term management and use of community-based safe water systems are essential to reduce water-related health risks in rural areas. Water sector professionals frequently cite water users' sense of ownership for the water system as essential for its continuity. This study aims to provide the first insight into users’ understanding of psychological ownership, as well as generalizable data, regarding safe water management in rural Nepal. In this convergent mixed-methods study, we conducted 22 qualitative and 493 quantitative interviews with community members in five districts of Nepal, where spring-fed piped water supplies were previously implemented through a demand-led, participatory planning approach. We analyzed the qualitative data by thematic analysis and modeled quantitative routes to and consequences of psychological ownership in generalized estimating equations. Findings from qualitative and quantitative analyses converged to show that community members’ decision-making, investment of labor and money, and knowledge about the water system were associated with greater psychological ownership. Psychological ownership was related to greater acceptance and responsibility for maintenance and use, as well as greater confidence in functionality of the water system, but not to its actual functionality. The results highlight the potential of psychological ownership and community participation for the longevity of community-based safe water infrastructure.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/28956
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	School of Management and Law
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Business Information Technology (IWI)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Management and Law

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Ambühl, B., Tomberge, V. M. J., Kunwar, B. M., Schertenleib, A., Marks, S. J., & Inauen, J. (2021). The role of psychological ownership in safe water management : a mixed-methods study in Nepal. Water, 13(5), 589. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13050589

Ambühl, B. et al. (2021) ‘The role of psychological ownership in safe water management : a mixed-methods study in Nepal’, Water, 13(5), p. 589. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/w13050589.

B. Ambühl, V. M. J. Tomberge, B. M. Kunwar, A. Schertenleib, S. J. Marks, and J. Inauen, “The role of psychological ownership in safe water management : a mixed-methods study in Nepal,” Water, vol. 13, no. 5, p. 589, 2021, doi: 10.3390/w13050589.

AMBÜHL, Benjamin, Vica Maria Jelena TOMBERGE, Bal Mukunda KUNWAR, Ariane SCHERTENLEIB, Sara J. MARKS und Jennifer INAUEN, 2021. The role of psychological ownership in safe water management : a mixed-methods study in Nepal. Water. 2021. Bd. 13, Nr. 5, S. 589. DOI 10.3390/w13050589

Ambühl, Benjamin, Vica Maria Jelena Tomberge, Bal Mukunda Kunwar, Ariane Schertenleib, Sara J. Marks, and Jennifer Inauen. 2021. “The Role of Psychological Ownership in Safe Water Management : A Mixed-Methods Study in Nepal.” Water 13 (5): 589. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13050589.

Ambühl, Benjamin, et al. “The Role of Psychological Ownership in Safe Water Management : A Mixed-Methods Study in Nepal.” Water, vol. 13, no. 5, 2021, p. 589, https://doi.org/10.3390/w13050589.