From mental well-being to pro-environmental and distributive behavior? Evidence from a randomized mindfulness intervention
Lea Cassar, Tim‐Michael Neu, Petra Jansen
Frontiers in Behavioral Economics September 30, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/frbhe.2026.1875793 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | University students |
| Intervention | Online mindfulness course |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The eight-week online mindfulness course increased mindfulness but showed no robust causal effects on pro-environmental behavior, distribution choices, or related policy preferences, with only selective effects on proposed mediating channels. The authors suggest mindfulness interventions in scalable online, voluntary formats may have limited potential to influence behavior and preferences in these domains. |
Abstract
Introduction: This paper investigates whether mindfulness training can generate spillovers to socially relevant economic behavior, particularly in the domains of environmental protection and income distribution.
Methods: We conduct a randomized controlled trial among university students, offering an eight-week online mindfulness course and measuring outcomes using incentivized behavioral tasks and policy preference surveys.
Results: While the intervention successfully increases mindfulness, we find no robust evidence of causal effects on pro-environmental behavior, distribution choices, or related policy preferences, and only selective effects on the proposed mediating channels.
Discussion: These findings suggest that mindfulness interventions, especially in scalable online formats and voluntary settings, may have limited potential to influence behavior and preferences in these domains.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- The Way Forward in Mindfulness and Sustainability: a Critical Review and Research Agenda Journal of Cognitive Enhancement July 2, 2020
- Mindfulness-Based and Mindfulness-Informed Interventions at the Workplace: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of RCTs. Mindfulness May 11, 2023
- The effect of online mindfulness training on connectedness to oneself, to others and to nature in students. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being April 1, 2026
- Freiburg mindfulness inventory (FMI) short form and revised form (FMI-13R) - norm scores and psychometrics in a representative German sample. BMC Psychology November 26, 2025
- Does meditation training promote pro-environmental behavior? A cross-sectional comparison and a randomized controlled trial Journal of Environmental Psychology October 1, 2022
and 5 more in the library