320 © 2024 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. Age, gender, and self-concept as predictors of solid waste management among residents in cross river state, Nigeria Cecilia Akpana Beshel 1+ Love Joseph Asor 2 Aganyi Asu Ojong 3 Peter Aniah Betiang 4 Virginia Emmanuel Ironbar 5 1,2,5 Department of Continuing Education and Development Studies, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. 1 Email: beshelakpana@gmail.com 2 Email: lovejosephasor@yahoo.com 5 Email: giniaironbar@unical.edu.ng 3 Department of Environmental Education, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. 3 Email: aganyiojongasu@gmail.com 4 Dept. of Educational Foundations, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda. 4 Email: peterbetiang@kiu.ac.ug (+ Corresponding author) ABSTRACT Article History Received: 7 June 2023 Revised: 15 January 2024 Accepted: 12 February 2024 Published: 27 March 2024 Keywords Age Conservation Disposal Drainage Gender Sewage Waste management. This research investigated the correlation between individuals' age, attitude, and practices in handling solid waste in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study formulated three hypotheses to guide its direction and utilised a survey research design. The participants included 1,106 individuals selected through random sampling from a population of 6,923 using a stratified approach. The researchers developed a questionnaire, which six experts validated, and its reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha method. Various statistical methods were employed to test the hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05, including simple regression, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and an independent t-test. The outcomes revealed that age, gender, and self-concept influenced solid waste management practices within the studied population. Specifically, males and individuals with a strong self-concept exhibited more active engagement in solid waste management than their female and low-self-concept counterparts. The data indicated that respondents aged 38 and above demonstrated the highest level of involvement in solid waste management, followed by those aged 18-27. Conversely, respondents aged 28-37 exhibited the lowest extent of engagement in solid waste management practices. This study has valuable implications for policymakers, waste management professionals, and community stakeholders. The insights can guide the development of evidence-based strategies to encourage responsible waste management behaviours, thereby contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future. Contribution/Originality: This study contributes to the literature by examining the correlation between age, attitude, and practices in solid waste management among individuals in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study provided valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop targeted strategies for promoting responsible waste management behaviours and a cleaner environment. 1. INTRODUCTION Solid waste management is a growing challenge in Nigeria due to high population growth and consumption patterns in urban areas. In Cross River State, solid waste is often disposed of indiscriminately, leading to negative environmental impacts and potential harm to human health (Eneji, Eneji, Ngoka, & Abang, 2017; Inah, Uwadiegwu, International Journal of Management and Sustainability 2024 Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 320-336 ISSN(e): 2306-0662 ISSN(p): 2306-9856 DOI: 10.18488/11.v13i2.3693 © 2024 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved.