Mindfulness and sustainability: correlation or causation?

• Published in: Current opinion in psychology Vol. 28; pp. 23 - 27
• Main Authors: Geiger, Sonja M, Grossman, Paul, Schrader, Ulf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.09.010
• EISSN: 2352-250X

•Meta-analytic evidence exists for a small, positive relation between mindfulness and sustainable consumption.•This relation hinges mainly on the awareness facet of mindfulness, not on the acceptance facet.•Five potential areas for indirect positive effects of mindfulness are found in literature.•First experimental study finds no evidence for direct causal effects.•Indirect long-term effects likely via well-being and material values.
Mindfulness-based approaches have been suggested as a potential remedy for an increasingly unsustainable consumption level in early industrialized countries. This article reviews twelve current empiric papers (2005ø2013) on five different potential pathways in which mindfulness is thought to unfold its effects on sustainable behaviors. Unfortunately, robust empiric evidence on the instrumentality of mindfulness-based interventions to promote sustainable lifestyles is still rare. Most of the available data originates from cross-sectional studies evidencing a small, positive relationship between some facets of dispositional mindfulness and diverse consumption behaviors. Null-effects of one prospective study blunt claims on the effectiveness of mindfulness practice to directly change consumption patterns though. Nevertheless, indirect effects including promotion of subjective well-being and decline of materialistic values are encouraging enough to justify future research on the topic. Specific recommendations for such future research are given.