On the Relationship Between Climate Change Anxiety and Pro-Environmental Behaviour: Dispositional Mindfulness as a Double-Edged Sword

The positive relationship between dispositional mindfulness and pro-environmental behaviour has been often attributed to increased ecological concern and behavioural regulation. However, research on how mindfulness might influence pro-environmental behaviour via enhanced emotional regulation remains scarce, even though existing studies suggest that negative emotions can hinder adaptive responses to environmental crises, especially when such emotions disrupt daily functioning. The current study investigated the dynamics of the relationship between dispositional mindfulness, climate change anxiety, and pro-environmental behaviour, in the hypothesis that mindfulness may contribute to predict pro-environmental behaviour by encouraging a more adaptive coping strategy facing the threat of climate change.

Two hundred and sixty-six adults participated in a correlational study and completed self-report measures assessing mindfulness, climate change anxiety, and pro-environmental behaviour, along with several control variables.

The results of our study revealed that mindfulness skills have a dual effect on the relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviour. At high levels, nonreacting weakened the positive relationship between the cognitive impairment dimension of climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviour. Meanwhile, both observing and nonreacting significantly moderated the relationship between the functional impairment dimension of climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviour, which became positive in presence of such mindfulness facets.

The outcomes of our investigation offer initial indications of the involvement of dispositional mindfulness in influencing the relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviour. However, this influence manifests in different ways. Whilst mindfulness enhances engagement in pro-environmental behaviour in case of more severe forms of climate change anxiety, it also reduces the motivational drive associated with milder forms of climate change anxiety.

This study is not preregistered.