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Andersen, Julia

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Andersen, Julia

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    Minding the Gap Between Awareness and Behavior: Roles of Mindfulness and Connectedness to Nature in Fostering Ecological Behavior
    (2017-06-14) Andersen, Julia; Demick, Jack; Langer, Ellen; Spetter, Dante
    This study examined the interrelations among mindfulness, connectedness with nature, and ecologically sustainable behavior (ESB). Participants (N = 149), recruited on-line using Amazon Mechanical Turk, completed self-report questionnaires. Mindfulness represents a sociocognitive construct developed by Langer (1992), defined as “a state of openness to novelty in which the individual actively constructs categories and distinctions.” There is emerging empirical evidence linking Eastern tradition meditation-based mindfulness and connectedness with nature to ESB. However, only one published study has investigated the association among these three constructs. Further, Langer’s sociocognitive mindfulness construct, originating from scientific research and not requiring meditation, has not been examined in relation to either ESB or connectedness with nature. Because her mindfulness state can be achieved in shorter time without regular practice, it may be employed to enhance programs designed to foster ecological behavior among the public. Key findings were that, after controlling for demographic variables, mindfulness is a significant predictor of ESB (Hypothesis 1) and that there is a positive relationship between mindfulness and connectedness with nature (Hypothesis 2). Further, mindfulness and connectedness with nature each provide unique predictions of ESB and collectively they predict ESB better than either alone (Hypothesis 3). Analysis of relations among mindfulness subcategories (Flexibility, Novelty Seeking, Novelty Producing, Engagement), connectedness to nature, and ESB provided support for Hypothesis 4 in that Novelty Seeking has the strongest relationship with ESB, but not Hypothesis 5 in that Engagement has the strongest relationship with connectedness to nature. Exploratory data analysis showed that both connectedness with nature and mindfulness have the strongest associations with Vicarious and Social Behaviors Toward Conservation in the ESB behavioral domain. Finally, demographic data analysis revealed between-sex differences in the main study variables and their relationships.