Does meditation training promote pro-environmental behavior? A cross-sectional comparison and a randomized controlled trial
Journal of Environmental Psychology October 1, 2022 Kevin M. Riordan, D. Maccoon, B. Barrett et al.
Long-term meditators showed greater environmental attitudes but not pro-environmental behavior or sustainable well-being compared to non-meditators. An eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program did not significantly improve pro-environmental behavior, environmental attitudes, or sustainable well-being relative to a waitlist or an active control group. However, participation in either meditation or active control training predicted increases in pro-environmental behavior and sustainable well-being compared to waitlist, though the well-being finding was not robust to multiple imputation. Meditation training may promote pro-environmental behavior and related variables, but the specific training tested does not appear uniquely effective.