Mindful ways of change: Transformation through meaning construction and positive reappraisal in the context of sustainable food consumption

a. ObjectivesDispositional mindfulness has been found to be associated with pro-environmental behavior. To explain this connection in the context of sustainable food consumption behavior, aspects of meaning construction have been discussed and investigated in a model by Hunecke & Richter (2019). The present paper investigated first, whether this rather complex model can be replicated (RQ1). Second, the applicability of the model to a broader behavioral context was investigated (RQ2). Third, it explored positive reappraisal and transformability as potential mechanisms between mindfulness and sustainability-related meaning construction (RQ3).b. Methods Data of two cross-sectional studies were analyzed (Study 1: N = 561; Study 2: N = 1003). RQ1 and RQ2 were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). RQ3 was analyzed with an exploratory path model testing positive reappraisal and transformability as serial mediators of the relationship between the mindfulness dimension of observation and sustainability-related meaning contents. c. ResultsResults indicate overall a good fit of the models explaining organic food consumption, the consumption of animal-based foods and policy acceptance (RQ1 and RQ2). Observing showed small indirect effects on these behaviors (β = -.11 to .12, p<.001). Positive reappraisal and transformability partially mediated the relationship between observing and sustainability-related meaning contents. d. ConclusionsThe results suggest that processes of meaning construction are promising in explaining the relationship between mindfulness and pro-environmental behavior. Furthermore, a broadened awareness is associated with coping mechanisms that may relate to the construction of meaning toward sustainability-related meaning contents.