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Structural equation model 1. Standardized regression weights. For all latent endogen variables explained, variance (R²) is declared in each circle. Model fit indices: χ²(441) = 914.71, p < .000; CFI = .90, RMSEA = .059, SRMR = .066; *p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001
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The ecological crisis and the related consequences for societies and nature calls for a change in individual consumption behavior. Empirical evidence has shown correlations between mindfulness and ecological behavior, pointing out the potential of mindfulness to support changes in behavior toward greater sustainability. Due to its ecological impact...
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Considering the insufficient usage of natural resources, ecological crisis, rising population and limitations of the traditional food system in the 21st century, it is extremely important to search for methods to achieve sustainable development. In this context, the search for alternative methods of farming and the transformation of typical food co...
Citations
... Healthy food choices represented the main outcome variable in most of the included studies (86.7%), whereas only six studies [22,24,37,41,42,62] explicitly took into account sustainable eating. Furthermore, while the majority of studies (88.9%) were conducted with participants from the general population, five focused on clinical populations, including women attending primary health care services [57], individuals at risk of coronary artery disease [44], patients in rehabilitation for cardiac and orthopedic problems [46], patients with a metabolic syndrome [31], and overweight or obese college students [27]. ...
... Based on the mindfulness approach [81], three of the included studies applied and tested mindfulness-based interventions for the promotion of healthy [63] and sustainable eating in terms of organic, local, and seasonal food purchase and reduced meat consumption, assessed through an ad hoc self-report questionnaire [37] and in terms of ecological and economic impact through the Sustainable Consumption Behavior-Nutrition Scale [62] in the German general population. In terms of healthy eating, 1 h mindfulness group training was effective in promoting healthier food choices in American students post-intervention [63]. ...
... In terms of sustainable eating, sustainable food consumption was significantly and directly associated with the mindfulness dimension "acting with awareness". In addition, it was indirectly associated with the mindfulness dimension "observing" through construction of meaning, sustainability-related beliefs of meaning, and personal norms in a non-clinical sample of German adults [37]. Furthermore, a consumption-specific mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) focused on mindful eating and sustainable nutritional behavior was effective in enhancing mindful eating and strengthening pre-consumption intentions and attitudes, as compared to a waiting list control group, in a sample of German students [62]. ...
Background: Non-sustainable diets are associated with several environmental and health-related problems. Psychology research is interested in the study of food choice determinants, and several theoretical frameworks have been applied to study mechanisms underlying behavioral change and to develop theory-based interventions. The present systematic review is aimed at reviewing the existing literature on the psychological theoretical frameworks used to study sustainable and/or healthy food choices and their application for the development of interventions promoting such food choices, both in general and clinical populations. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, PsycInfo, and Scopus was conducted according to PRISMA criteria. Results: Forty-five articles met the inclusion criteria and thirty-five theoretical frameworks emerged, mostly pertaining to social psychology and with the most widely used being the Theory of Planned Behavior. The majority of studies had a cross-sectional design, were conducted in general populations, and focused on healthy food choices. Only a few studies tested theory-based interventions. Internal (i.e., self-efficacy, personal values, and motivation) and external (i.e., peers, family, and social media influence) factors emerged as relevant healthy and sustainable eating determinants. Conclusions: The current review underlines that an integrative perspective combining prompts from different psychology fields is needed in order to identify the psychological factors influencing food choices and to develop psychological interventions for the promotion of more sustainable diets.
... Individual well-being (IWB) encompasses physiological and psychological aspects and leads to individuals' subjective evaluations of their lives (Evers et al., 2012) in the context of food. Positive thinking is associated with physical well-being, whereas mindfulness is linked to sustainable food consumption (Scheier & Carver, 1992;Hunecke & Richter, 2019;Peitz et al., 2021). Research has demonstrated a relationship between well-being and health, including consuming organic and functional foods (Ares et al., 2016;Goetzke, Nitzko, & Spiller, 2014). ...
Food well-being is critical in food marketing and sustainability, yet identifying its key sources and validating them against overall well-being remains challenging. Food marketers struggle to assess contributable factors in strategic decisions. Enhancing Food well-being boosts consumer happiness and sustainability, but lacks a standardized evaluation method. This study introduces a novel Food Well-Being Index (FWBI) embedded in a nomological net using composite-based structural equation modeling to identify key sources of consumer happiness and compare performance across composite variables to promote healthier and more sustainable eating habits.
Data from 401 participants are analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Participants provide ratings on 56 statements in the questionnaire, forming the basis for the indicators. An importance-performance matrix analysis is applied to capture important indicators and their performances.
Results reveal individual and environmental well-being as the most salient drivers of food-related happiness, while social well-being demonstrates higher performance. These dimensions are underpinned by motivations for health and environmental responsibility and moderating food well-being to encourage sustainable consumption behaviors.
This empirical study contributes to marketing research and practice in three ways. First, it calibrates the FWBI and identifies key indicators of food well-being. Second, it validates the relevance of food well-being and its impact on overall well-being. Third, it conducts an importance-performance matrix analysis, illustrating how managers in different sectors can use the FWBI to identify essential aspects in food production, design, and retailing, and improve products and services. Therefore, this study has significant implications for sustainability-oriented marketing strategies.
... Mindfulness has been associated with pro-environmental behaviors (Panno et al., 2018) and a general connectedness to nature (Van Gordon et al., 2018). High levels of mindfulness as a trait have been linked to a tendency to consume more sustainably (Dhandra, 2019;Fischer et al., 2017;Park & Dhandra, 2017), eat less meat (Hunecke & Richter, 2019;Werner et al., 2020), and participate more frequently in environmental activism initiatives (Wamsler & Brink, 2018). Some researchers have also found that individuals who engage in active mindfulness practices, such as meditation or other mind-body exercises, are more likely to adopt proenvironmental behaviors (Jacob et al., 2009;Loy et al., 2022;Loy & Reese, 2019;Panno et al., 2018). ...
... Furthermore, Amel et al. (2009) found a significant positive correlation between the mindfulness facet "acting with awareness" and scores on a green behavior scale in a small sample of 100 visitors to a sustainability expo. Moreover, in two recent studies (Hunecke & Richter, 2019;Richter & Hunecke, 2020), the mindfulness facet "observe" was identified as the strongest predictor of sustainable and organic food consumption. A weak positive correlation was also found between "acting with awareness" and sustainable food consumption (Hunecke & Richter, 2019). ...
... Moreover, in two recent studies (Hunecke & Richter, 2019;Richter & Hunecke, 2020), the mindfulness facet "observe" was identified as the strongest predictor of sustainable and organic food consumption. A weak positive correlation was also found between "acting with awareness" and sustainable food consumption (Hunecke & Richter, 2019). This aspect of mindfulness, its effect on reducing automatic and impulsive behaviors, helps us understand the close interconnection between mindfulness and emotion regulation. ...
Objectives
This study aimed to explore possible gender differences in the relationship between emotion dysregulation, mindfulness, and pro-environmental behaviors. Specifically, it aimed to investigate whether mindfulness mediated the association between emotion dysregulation and pro-environmental behaviors, and if there were any gender differences in this relationship.
Method
A sample of 1,406 employees (56.3% males, average age = 44.85) participated in the study. Participants completed the Pro-Environmental Behaviors Scale (PEBS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale- Short Form (DERS-SF), and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) to assess pro-environmental behaviors, emotion regulation, and mindfulness, respectively. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and mediation analysis.
Results
Women exhibited higher scores on the PEBS total scale (p < 0.001; 𝜂² = 0.02), higher scores on the Observe and Describe FFMQ subscales (p < 0.001; 𝜂² = 0.01), and lower scores on the Non-react FFMQ subscale (p < 0.001; 𝜂² = 0.01), compared to men. No gender differences were found on the DERS-SF total scale (p > 0.05; 𝜂² = 0.00). Higher levels of emotion dysregulation were associated with lower pro-environmental behaviors (r = - 0.12; p < 0.05). Mindfulness mediated the relationship between emotion dysregulation and pro-environmental behaviors, specifically through the ability to observe one's own emotions and external stimuli. Gender differences were found based on the Non-react facet of mindfulness, which is negatively associated with pro-environmental behaviors in men (β = - 0.08; p < 0.05) and positively associated with them in women (β = 0.09; p < 0.05).
Conclusions
The findings suggest that emotion dysregulation and mindfulness are associated with pro-environmental behaviors. The ability to observe one's own emotions and external stimuli plays a significant role in promoting sustainable behaviors, while the ability to perceive one's own emotions without feeling overwhelmed or compelled to react to them has different associations with pro-environmental behaviors in men and women. These results provide insights for the development of interventions targeting emotion regulation and mindfulness to encourage pro-environmental behaviors, specifically based on gender.
Preregistration
This study is not preregistered.
... For instance, the dimension "Outer Awareness" has been linked to explicit attitudes toward diverse sustainability-related objects and concepts in the study by . Additionally, "Acting with Awareness" demonstrated a direct correlation with self-reported sustainable food consumption in the research conducted by Hunecke and Richter (2019). Our results further emphasize the predictive significance of individuals' self-reported attitudes for consumption behavior based on analyses from cross-sectional data. ...
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a mindfulness intervention (IG) compared to an
inactive control group (CG) on explicit and implicit attitudes toward vegetarian and meat-based foods, nutrition
behavior measures, trait mindfulness and wellbeing.
Methods: In the IG (N =66), we implemented a mindfulness-based intervention consisting of eight weekly group
sessions online, along with an additional half-day session held on campus. The CG (N =71) received no intervention
or training. We employed a pre-/post-intervention design involving questionnaires (trait mindfulness,
wellbeing, sustainable nutrition behavior scale), an online supermarket scenario, as well as an explicit rating task
and an implicit association task using pictures of vegetarian and meat-based foods. Additionally, a voluntary
follow-up testing was conducted two months after the final group session.
Results: No intervention effects were observed on explicit and implicit attitudes, wellbeing, or nutrition behavior
measures. However, there was an increase in trait mindfulness within the IG. Exploratory cross-sectional findings
indicated that trait mindfulness facets such as “Acting with Awareness” and “Outer Awareness”
, along with
explicit attitudes, were significant predictors of self-reported sustainable consumption behavior. Additionally,
sex and explicit attitudes were identified as significant predictors of vegetarian consumption behavior in the
online supermarket task.
Conclusion: Our findings could not substantiate previous claims regarding the potential causal effects of mindfulness
practice on sustainable consumption behavior, specifically in the realm of sustainable and vegetarian
nutrition, as well as subjective wellbeing. Future studies may benefit from implementing longer-term mindfulness-based
interventions and considering other potential decisive factors, such as connectedness to nature and
others. Integrating training elements focusing on these specific variables into the intervention could be valuable.
... Rapid intensification of agriculture-based production and business is required to meet the increasing food demand, address the sustainability crisis, curb climate change, and be costeffective . Past research substantiates that the greenhouse effect is greatly predisposed by unmindful production and consumption of food products (Hunecke & Richter, 2019), as carbon emissions can be minimalized by refraining from meat consumption (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Therefore, many individuals are switching to a plant-based diet, for example, vegan food which is considered a healthier and environmentally sustainable option. ...
The study aims to ascertain the mediating influence of nature connectedness and love for nature in the association of terminal and instrumental values with stated buying behavior in the vegan food context. Drawing theoretical underpinning from Value‐Belief‐Norm (VBN) in terms of value dichotomy and the Biophilia Hypothesis for sustainable consumption, the research hypotheses were tested using covariance‐driven structural equation modeling. Cross‐sectional data of 524 participants was collected through an online agency from an emerging market (India). Although the results suggest that improved terminal and instrumental values contribute to stated buying behavior, this effect transpires only through the love for nature. Furthermore, the role of love for nature as a mediating construct in the relationship between the terminal and instrumental values and the corresponding influence on stated buying behavior has been confirmed. Thus, the present study empirically corroborates the rationality of Value‐Belief‐Norm as well as the Biophilia Hypothesis as its novel theoretical contributions. Marketers of vegan food products should formulate terminal and instrumental value‐oriented strategies that reinforce nature connectedness and love for nature, which are anticipated to exert a significant stated buying behavior‐enhancing influence.
... It is possible that ethical practices alone may not be enough to drive changes in prosocial behaviour, while the integration of both ethical and Buddhist wisdom practices could be essential for a significant impact on prosocial behaviour, potentially contributing to the observed contradictory results in previous studies. This notion is supported by Thiermann and Sheate's (2021) systematic review of the relationship between mindfulness and environmental sustainability which highlighted a consensus among theoretical (Bahl et al., 2016;Thiermann & Sheate, 2020) and empirical studies (Amel et al., 2009;Hunecke & Richter, 2019) regarding the positive impact of insight into interconnectedness, self-transcendence, and impermanence on pro-environmental behaviour. Nevertheless, most empirical studies examining this connection have focused on participants' trait mindfulness without incorporating any form of mindfulness intervention (Thiermann & Sheate, 2021). ...
The objective of this evaluative systematic review was to analyse the impact of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) that incorporate Buddhist wisdom practices on prosocial behaviour, and provide insights into their underlying mechanism, potential benefits, and applications.
A systematic literature search was conducted using three electronic databases up until 1 December 2023. Data on the participants in the MBIs, the structure, and how Buddhist teachings were integrated were collected. The impact on prosocial behaviour was analysed, along with evaluating overall study quality and the validity of the measures used for assessing changes in prosocial behaviour.
Collectively, the 12 eligible studies (n = 2185) suggest that incorporating the Buddhist wisdom practices of contemplating interdependence, emptiness, and perspective-taking on self and others may enhance prosocial behaviour through various mechanisms, such as (i) developing a sense of interdependence and common humanity, (ii) fostering the altruistic desire to help others, and (iii) experiencing a state of oneness. However, concerns were raised about the overuse and reliability of self-report measures for accurately assessing prosocial behaviour, as well as in respect of discerning the effectiveness of different meditation practices that are integrated into MBIs.
Overall, the findings of this systematic literature review reinforce the perspective that wisdom-based meditation practices contribute to prosocial behaviour. However, to enhance the understanding of the underlying causes of prosocial behaviour, future studies should isolate the effects of different meditation practices incorporated within MBIs. Furthermore, it is strongly recommended that future studies assessing the impact of MBIs on prosocial behaviour employ a range of diverse measures, such as self-reported psychometric scales in combination with real-world morally relevant scenarios.
PROSPERO: Registration No. CRD42023426411.
... and that both personal and social norms were involved with setting intentions and then achieving sustainable diets. 30,31 Barbaro and Pickett conducted two studies (N = 360; N = 296) that found positive associations between self-reported PEB and mindfulness (β = .19; P < .01; ...
Rising greenhouse gas levels heat the earth’s surface and alter climate patterns, posing unprecedented threats to planetary ecology and human health. At the same time, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease have reached epidemic proportions across the globe, caused in part by decreases in physical activity and by over-consumption of carbon-intensive foods. Thus, interventions that support active transportation (walking or cycling rather than driving) and healthier food choices (eating plant-based rather than meat-based diets) would yield health and sustainability “co-benefits.” Emerging research suggests that mindfulness-based practices might be effective means toward these ends. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we have developed a mindfulness-based group program, Mindful Eco-Wellness: Steps Toward Healthier Living. Loosely based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, our curriculum teaches mindfulness practices in tandem with sustainability principles, following weekly themes of Air, Water, Food, Energy, Transportation, Consumption, Nature Experience, and Ethics. For example, the “Air” class offers participants practice in guided breath meditations while they learn about the benefits of clean air. The theme of “Food” is presented through mindful eating, accompanied by educational videos highlighting the consequences of food production and consumption. “Transportation” includes walking/movement meditations and highlights the health benefits of physical activity and detriments of fossil-fueled transportation. Pedagogical lessons on energy, ecological sustainability, and the ethics of planetary health are intertwined with mindful nature experience and metta (loving-kindness) meditation. Curricular materials, including teaching videos, are freely available online. Pilot testing in community settings (n = 30) and in group medical visits (n = 34) has demonstrated feasibility; pilot data suggests potential effectiveness. Rigorous evaluation and testing are needed.
... Similarly, research conducted by Geiger, Otto, and Schrader (2018) using the Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences (CHIME) questionnaire (Bergomi et al., 2014) revealed a strong correlation between the awareness/observing facet and ecological behavior, while acting with awareness did not show the same correlation. Consequently, Geiger et al. (2020) proposed that only specific facets of mindfulness directly correlate with sustainable consumption behaviors, a viewpoint also emphasized by Geiger et al. (2019) and Hunecke & Richter (2019). Hence, the observing facet, which involves paying attention to internal and external experiences (Baer et al., 2006), emerges as a critical aspect of mindfulness (Lilja et al., 2013) and consistently predicts proenvironmental behaviors due to its heightened environmental awareness (Colombo et al., 2023). ...
... Notably, Barbaro and Pickett (2016) found that both mindfulness and its observing facet, along with pro-environmental behavior, are mediated by a strong connection to nature. Additionally, the observing facet was indirectly linked to organic food consumption by constructing meaning to life, meaning related to sustainability, and personal norms (Hunecke & Richter, 2019). Studies by Panno et al. (2018) and Geiger et al. (2018) revealed that social dominance and health-related behaviors mediated the association between ecological behavior and mindfulness. ...
Numerous studies have examined the psychological factors that impact pro-environmental behaviour. Two such factors,
the observational aspect of mindfulness and awe emotion significantly predict pro-environmental behaviour. Notably,
mindfulness is associated with the experience of awe. However, research on awe emotion and its relationship with pro-
environmental behaviors and mindfulness is limited. The present study aims to explore the connection between the
observational facet of mindfulness and pro-environmental behavior through the connectedness facet of awe emotion. Data
were collected from 204 undergraduate students majoring in forestry or its related courses, aged from 18 to 21 years using
a purposive sampling technique. The measures employed included the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-S), the Five Facets of
Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and the Pro-Environmental Behaviour Scale. To test the mediation, Hayes’ PROCESS
macro analysis was utilized. The results indicate that the connectedness facet of awe emotion mediates the relationship
between observational characteristics of mindfulness and pro-environmental behaviour. Thus, this study offers a new
perspective on the interplay between specific characteristics of mindfulness and awe emotion in the context of pro-
environmental behaviour.
... For example, Jacob et al. (2009) found a significant link between sustainable food practice and the frequency of mindfulness meditation. Hunecke and Richter (2019) investigated the relation of five dispositional mindfulness facets (observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience, nonreactivity to inner experience) with the following constructs: construction of meaning in life, sustainability-related meaning, personal ecological norm, and sustainable food consumption. Their study revealed a direct relationship between the mindfulness facet acting with awareness and self-reported sustainable food consumption. ...
... H1: First, since previous research showed a correlation between mindfulness and affective attitudes (e.g., Jansen et al., 2021), we assume that both the adapted MBSR and the compassion and caring-based intervention groups improve the explicit and implicit affective attitudes toward vegetarian foods compared to the active control group. If the improvement is due to a change in the daily awareness of impulses (Karremans and Papies, 2017;Hunecke and Richter, 2019), it should be higher after the attention-focused meditation training (adapted MBSR) compared to the compassion and caring-based mental training. On the other hand, if the improvement is due to a change in the feeling of connectedness to others (Hutcherson et al., 2008) and a higher prosocial behavior (Böckler et al., 2018), it should be the other way around. ...
Objectives
The main goal of our intervention study was to investigate whether two conceptually different mindfulness interventions positively impacted the explicit and implicit affective evaluations of vegetarian foods. We included possible mediating variables (e.g., wellbeing) and related our results to the stage model of self-regulated behavioral change (SSBC).
Methods
We implemented a compassion and caring-based mental training (N = 31) and an adapted MBSR course (N = 34) as mindfulness interventions, and a stress-reduction course (N = 26) as the active control group. The curriculums consisted of 12 weekly group sessions á 75 min. All participants were tested pre- and post-intervention and 3 months after the last intervention session, answered questionnaires (mindfulness, compassion, wellbeing, items of the SSBC) and completed an explicit affective evaluation task and an affective priming task.
Results
There was an improvement in the explicit attitudes toward vegetarian foods regardless of the intervention group. In the SSBC, we found a link between the explicit attitudes toward vegetarian foods and the indicated stage in the model. Multiple regression analysis revealed social and personal norms and a vegetarian/vegan diet as the only significant predictors for goal intention in the SSBC.
Conclusion
The results of our study suggest that both conceptually different mindfulness interventions, as well as a stress-reduction program, have a positive impact on explicit affective attitudes toward vegetarian foods. We highlight the meaning of inner dimensions and transformation for change processes for a more sustainable diet and the role of social and personal norms.
... It would also allow for better control and understanding of whether walking itself and being in "motion" explains the more robust results. Including qualitative measures such as interviews or diaries would also answer calls from the literature to incorporate such measurements [74] in order to help further unpack and clarify the relationship between mindfulness and climate policy support [27,34,132]. Overall, these results are relevant for organizations and policymakers who seek to foster climate policy support and environmental attitudes in their stakeholders. Data Availability Statement: The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. ...
Mindfulness practices have the potential to induce the cognitive and behavioral changes needed to foster pro-environmental behavior and increase support toward sustainable and climate-oriented policies. However, the empirical evidence of the effectiveness of meditation on sustainable behavior is limited and mostly confined to correlational studies, often based on the same type of mindfulness interventions. In this paper, we report the results of an online experiment (n = 1000) comparing the impact of three different short-term mindfulness interventions on various (self-reported and incentivized) measures of mindfulness state and sustainable behavior. While only one of our interventions is found to impact environmental attitude and climate policy support directly, we show that the three meditation practices indirectly foster sustainable behavior through preidentified mediators. These results are relevant for organizations and policymakers who seek to foster climate policy support and environmental attitudes in their stakeholders.
