From the planet to the plate: the mediation effect of connectedness to nature on the relationship between attitudes and sustainable eating.

Abstract

Purpose : In the context of global warming, there has been a surge of interest in studying the psychosocial determinants of environmental behaviour. With regard to the climate footprint of the food industry, food consumption behaviours form a particularly significant category of pro-environmental behaviours. The aim of this research was to assess the extent to which connectedness to nature can be mobilized as a mediator of the link between environmental attitudes and sustainable food behaviours. Design/methodology/approach : A French scale was designed to measure these behaviours, considering simultaneously the questions of sustainable product choice and consumption restriction. Mediation was tested using Structural Equation Modelling. Findings : The structural equation modelling conducted on a sample of 708 participants shows the mediating effect of connectedness to nature on only one of the two dimensions: a positive mediation of the attitude-behaviour link is observed for the dimension related to choosing more environmentally-friendly products, whereas this is not the case for lower consumption of animal products. It thus appears that mobilizing connectedness to nature is relevant to a greater or lesser degree depending on the type of food behaviour. Originality : This is one of the first studies to explore the link between connectedness to nature and sustainable eating in France, and to investigate the differentiated effect of connectedness to nature according to the type of food behavior targeted.