Mindfulness as an antidote to conspicuous consumption: The mediating roles of self-esteem, self-concept clarity and normative influence
Megha Bharti, Vivek Suneja, Mehak Bharti
Personality and Individual Differences August 24, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111215 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational survey study using structural equation modelling Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 588 |
| Population | Consumers, comprising 312 non-meditators and 276 meditators |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 34 |
| Key findings | Dispositional mindfulness was negatively related to conspicuous consumption in both meditators and non-meditators, and conspicuous consumption differed significantly between the two groups. The authors report that self-esteem, self-concept clarity, and consumer susceptibility to normative influence sequentially mediate the mindfulness–conspicuous consumption association, and they propose mindfulness as an antidote to conspicuous consumption. |
Abstract
Extant research in consumer behaviour has demonstrated the pervasiveness of conspicuous consumption as a means of psychological salve from inner conflicts such as self-discrepancies with regard to one's status, abilities, power or self-esteem. In this paper we propose mindfulness as an antidote to conspicuous consumption behaviour. Using structural equation modelling and survey responses of 588 consumers (312 non-meditators and 276 meditators), the current research examines the potential sequential mediation effects of self-esteem, self-concept-clarity and consumer susceptibility to normative influence on the association between mindfulness and conspicuous consumption. The results reveal significant differences in conspicuous consumption between the two groups and show that dispositional mindfulness is negatively related to conspicuous consumption in both the samples. Further, mediation effects are confirmed and plausible feedback loops are also identified. The empirical investigation may be useful in understanding the mechanism through which mindfulness works as an antidote to conspicuous consumption, a behaviour which is often seen as detrimental to wellbeing.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Differential Item Functioning on the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire Is Minimal in Demographically Matched Meditators and Nonmeditators Assessment December 30, 2010
- Mindfulness meditation and explicit and implicit indicators of personality and self-concept changes. Frontiers in Psychology January 29, 2015