The mindful way out of materialism: Mindfulness mediates the association between regulatory modes and materialism

Abstract

This research examines whether and how the relationship between regulatory orientations –assessment and locomotion modes – and materialism can be explained by mindfulness. Based on previous literature, we predict that assessment and locomotion modes would be differentially associated with mindfulness which, in turn, would inhibit people to adopt materialistic values. In Study 1, we found that mindfulness plays a significant role in reducing people’s adherence to materialistic values, controlling for their levels of thought suppression and well-being. In Study 2, we pointed out that the assessment mode has a negative relationship with mindfulness, which in turn, is negatively related to materialistic values. On the contrary, we found that the locomotion mode has a positive relationship with mindfulness, which in turn, is negatively related to materialistic values. These results provide evidence for an underlying mechanism of the effect of regulatory orientations on materialism by showing that mindfulness is a contributing factor in the pursuit of materialistic values of both assessors and locomotors.