How does mindfulness affect pro-environmental behaviors? a qualitative analysis of the mechanisms of change in a sample of active practitioners
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Thiermann, Ute B
Sheate, William R
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objectives
While there is theoretical and empirical evidence for a positive relationship between mindfulness and pro-environmental behaviors, so far research into mindfulness-based sustainability trainings with meditation novices yielded underwhelming results. At the same time, there is a lack of qualitative research into the mindfulness and sustainability nexus. The objective of this qualitative research was to study the potential mechanisms linking mindfulness practices and individual engagement in pro-environmental behaviors in a sample of meditators.
Methods
This research is based on a reflexive thematic analysis of 13 semi-structured interviews with active meditators, analyzed under a constructivist epistemology and experiential orientation to data interpretation.
Results
Five themes describe the mindfulness-induced behavior changes experienced by the interviewees: awakening of the mind (self-regulation), awakening of the heart (relational capacities), internalizing environmental motivation, eudaimonic well-being, and deepening mindfulness. A thematic map displays the multitude of factors mediating the process of change.
Conclusions
This study revealed that for those interviewed, the degree to which mindfulness practices can encourage pro-environmental behaviors depends on the level of individual commitment towards mindfulness as a lifestyle. Particularly, the integration of mindful living principles in form of the informal practice of mindfulness plays a key role to implement behavior change. Yet even though this research identified five positive factors for change, the specific context of the interviewee sample combined with general methodological drawbacks call for a careful interpretation of the results regarding its applicability to the general population. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the mindfulness-sustainability nexus and shows the potential of qualitative methods to research complex intra-individual change processes and long-term behavior change.
While there is theoretical and empirical evidence for a positive relationship between mindfulness and pro-environmental behaviors, so far research into mindfulness-based sustainability trainings with meditation novices yielded underwhelming results. At the same time, there is a lack of qualitative research into the mindfulness and sustainability nexus. The objective of this qualitative research was to study the potential mechanisms linking mindfulness practices and individual engagement in pro-environmental behaviors in a sample of meditators.
Methods
This research is based on a reflexive thematic analysis of 13 semi-structured interviews with active meditators, analyzed under a constructivist epistemology and experiential orientation to data interpretation.
Results
Five themes describe the mindfulness-induced behavior changes experienced by the interviewees: awakening of the mind (self-regulation), awakening of the heart (relational capacities), internalizing environmental motivation, eudaimonic well-being, and deepening mindfulness. A thematic map displays the multitude of factors mediating the process of change.
Conclusions
This study revealed that for those interviewed, the degree to which mindfulness practices can encourage pro-environmental behaviors depends on the level of individual commitment towards mindfulness as a lifestyle. Particularly, the integration of mindful living principles in form of the informal practice of mindfulness plays a key role to implement behavior change. Yet even though this research identified five positive factors for change, the specific context of the interviewee sample combined with general methodological drawbacks call for a careful interpretation of the results regarding its applicability to the general population. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the mindfulness-sustainability nexus and shows the potential of qualitative methods to research complex intra-individual change processes and long-term behavior change.
Date Issued
2022-10-21
Date Acceptance
2022-10-03
Citation
Mindfulness, 2022, 13, pp.2997-3016
ISSN
1868-8527
Publisher
Springer
Start Page
2997
End Page
3016
Journal / Book Title
Mindfulness
Volume
13
Copyright Statement
© Crown 2022. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000870923400002&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Social Sciences
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Psychology, Clinical
Psychiatry
Psychology
Mindfulness
Compassion
Informal mindfulness
Sustainability
Pro-environmental behaviors
Motivation
SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION
INTERVENTIONS
CHILDHOOD
CONTEXT
LIFE
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-10-21