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Christine Wamsler. Photo

Christine Wamsler

Professor, Docent, appointed Excellent Teaching Practitioner (ETP)

Christine Wamsler. Photo

Nature connectedness and other transformative qualities associated with pro-environmental attitudes, behaviors, and engagement across scales : the direction of compassion matters

Author

  • Cecilia U.D. Stenfors
  • Walter Osika
  • Luis Mundaca
  • Silke Ruprecht
  • Lena Ramstetter
  • Christine Wamsler

Summary, in English

Current policy approaches addressing climate change have been insufficient. Integrative approaches linking inner and outer factors of behavior change, both at the private and organizational level, have been called for. The aim of the present study was thus to conceptualize and test a model of interlinkages between trainable transformative psychological qualities, meditation practice, wellbeing, stress, and pro-environmental behaviors in the private and organizational context, among decision-makers (N = 185) who responded to a survey of self-completion measures covering the topics above. Results show that meditation practices and longer practice duration were associated with more pro-environmental behavior, mindfulness facets, and wellbeing. Mindfulness facets and self-compassion were associated with higher wellbeing and lower stress, but not pro-environmental behavior. Importantly, higher compassion toward others was associated with more pro-environmental behavior but was not associated with own wellbeing and stress. Greater nature connectedness was associated with more proenvironmental behavior in private- and work life, mindfulness facets, compassion toward others, self-compassion, and longer meditation duration. Furthermore, at work, personal pro-environmental efforts were associated with such efforts by others in the organization, including management, and such efforts were also associated with overall integration of sustainability work in the organization. The results can help guide future interventions.

Department/s

  • The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
  • LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)

Publishing year

2025-04-10

Language

English

Publication/Series

Global Sustainability

Volume

8

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Topic

  • Social Work

Keywords

  • climate change mitigation
  • inner development goals
  • meditation
  • nature connectedness
  • other-directed compassion
  • pro-environmental behavior
  • sustainability

Status

Published

Project

  • Agents of Change - Mind, cognitive bias and decision-making in a context of social and climate change
  • Transition Visions: Coupling society, well-being and energy systems for transitioning to a fossil-free society

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2059-4798