The Interplay Between Mindful Eating, Climate Change Awareness, and Psychological Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional...

Climate change poses significant threats to both environmental and human health, with dietary patterns playing a crucial role in mitigating these threats. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is widely recognized for its sustainability and health benefits, while mindful eating practices are associated with improved psychological well-being. However, the interplay between mindful eating, climate change awareness, and psychological well-being remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the relationships between mindful eating behaviors, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, climate change awareness, and psychological well-being in a cross-sectional sample. A total of adult participants (n = 1350, aged 18-65) completed an online survey assessing the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS), Four Facet Mindful Eating Scale (FFaMES), Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS), and Climate Change Awareness Scale (CCAS). Correlation and linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations and predictors of psychological well-being. A significant positive correlation was observed between mindful eating and psychological well-being (p < 0.05). Additionally, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was positively associated with climate change awareness (p < 0.05). However, an unexpected negative association was found between Mediterranean diet adherence and psychological well-being (β = -0.086, p = 0.001). Regression analyses identified mindful eating (β = 0.159, p < 0.001), climate change awareness (β = 0.069, p = 0.010), and Mediterranean diet adherence (β = -0.086, p = 0.001) as significant predictors of psychological well-being, with the model explaining 48% of its variance (R ² = 0.48, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the complex interactions between dietary habits, mindfulness, and mental health. Further research is needed to explore the causal mechanisms underlying these relationships and to develop interventions that promote both sustainable eating behaviors and mental health resilience.