New Publication: Can meditation help the environment?
Source: Colourbox
A recent study examined cross-sectional associations between meditation practice, meditation goal orientation, mindfulness, psychological well-being, and intention-based pro-environmental behavior.
233 participants (102 novice and 131 experienced meditators) reported their meditation practice, mindfulness, well-being, and intention-based pro-environmental behavior, as well as their meditation goals: self-regulation (e.g., stress management); self-exploration (e.g., self-reflection); self-liberation (e.g., compassion).
The results showed:
Experience & goals: Self-regulation was pursued almost equally by novices and experienced meditators, whereas experienced meditators more strongly endorsed self-exploration and self-liberation.
Meditation practice: Practice was linked to higher mindfulness, more intention-based pro-environmental behavior, and lower meat-related CO₂ emissions – yet it was not linked to overall well-being or other impact-based behaviors.
Meditation goals: Self-regulation was associated with lower mindfulness and well-being (and more negative emotions). Self-liberation predicted more intention-based pro-environmental behavior and lower meat-related emissions ????. Self-exploration was related to higher mindfulness, but also lower intention-based pro-environmental behavior and higher meat-related emissions.
Takeaway: Meditation isn’t automatically “good for people” or “good for the planet.” Outcomes depend strongly on why people meditate.
Link: Rowland, Z., Schmidt, T., Dolle, T., Radtke, T., Kubiak, T., & Wenzel, M. (2025). Can meditation help the environment? Examining cross-sectional associations between meditation goals and outcomes in experienced and novice meditators. Mindfulness. DOI: 10.1007/s12671-025-02716-3
