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A Randomised Controlled Trial of Mental Mode Management to Foster Pro-Environmental Behaviour and Reduce Climate Change Anxiety in French Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Serena L. Colombo

    (Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Camille Lefrançois

    (Laboratoire de Psychologie et de Neurosciences, Institut de Médecine Environnementale (IME), 03700 Serbannes, France)

  • Jacques Fradin

    (Laboratoire de Psychologie et de Neurosciences, Institut de Médecine Environnementale (IME), 03700 Serbannes, France)

  • Salvatore G. Chiarella

    (Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
    Department of International Humanities and Social Sciences, UNINT, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 200, 00147 Rome, Italy)

  • Antonino Raffone

    (Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
    School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy, and Comparative Religions, Nalanda University, Rajgir 803116, India)

  • Luca Simione

    (Department of International Humanities and Social Sciences, UNINT, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 200, 00147 Rome, Italy
    Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (ISTC), National Research Council (CNR), Via S. Martino della Battaglia, 44, 00185 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Addressing climate change requires not only knowledge but also psychological resilience. This study examined whether integrating Mental Mode Management (MMM) self-regulation training with climate education improves pro-environmental outcomes and emotional responses to climate change. In a randomised 2 × 2 design, 44 participants were assigned to either a control group (CG; n = 21), which received a six-week climate education programme, or an experimental group (MMM; n = 23), which received the same education plus MMM training. Pro-environmental attitudes, behaviours, carbon emissions, climate change anxiety, mindfulness, and executive functions were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. A follow-up was also conducted six months later. Both groups showed increased pro-environmental attitudes post-intervention (η 2 = 0.3) and reduced food-related emissions (η 2 = 0.107). No changes were observed in pro-environmental behaviour scores or global carbon footprint. While neither intervention affected overall climate anxiety or cognitive impairment, functional impairment increased in the CG and decreased in the MMM group (η 2 = 0.177), with mindfulness facet acting with awareness moderating this effect. These findings contribute to sustainability research by showing that integrating climate education with psychological training enhances environmental awareness and fosters emotionally resilient engagement with climate challenges, supporting individual-level contributions to broader sustainability goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Serena L. Colombo & Camille Lefrançois & Jacques Fradin & Salvatore G. Chiarella & Antonino Raffone & Luca Simione, 2025. "A Randomised Controlled Trial of Mental Mode Management to Foster Pro-Environmental Behaviour and Reduce Climate Change Anxiety in French Adults," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6649-:d:1706570
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    2. Serena L. Colombo & Salvatore G. Chiarella & Camille Lefrançois & Jacques Fradin & Antonino Raffone & Luca Simione, 2023. "Why Knowing about Climate Change Is Not Enough to Change: A Perspective Paper on the Factors Explaining the Environmental Knowledge-Action Gap," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Maggie Grabow & Thomas Bryan & Mary M. Checovich & Alexander K. Converse & Cathy Middlecamp & Margaret Mooney & Elisa R. Torres & Samuel G. Younkin & Bruce Barrett, 2018. "Mindfulness and Climate Change Action: A Feasibility Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Alexandre Heeren & Camille Mouguiama-Daouda & Alba Contreras, 2022. "On climate anxiety and the threat it may pose to daily life functioning and adaptation: a study among European and African French-speaking participants," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 1-17, July.
    5. Wamsler, Christine & Brink, Ebba, 2018. "Mindsets for Sustainability: Exploring the Link Between Mindfulness and Sustainable Climate Adaptation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 55-61.
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