Mindfulness and Sustainable Food Consumption: The Role of Values, Age, and Future Time Perspective in a Higher‑Order Mediation‑Moderation Model

Abstract

Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between mindfulness and sustainable food consumption (SFC) among Vietnamese consumers. Specifically, it investigated whether moral, health, and hedonic values mediate this association, and whether age and future time perspective (FTP) moderate these associations within a higher-order mediation and moderation model. Method: Guided by an integrated theoretical framework, this research tested the proposed model. Using structural equation modeling with two independent samples (sample 1, n = 338; sample 2, n = 371), the study employed validated mindfulness scales (MAAS and CAMS-R) and distinct SFC measures. Results: Mindfulness was positively associated with moral, health, and hedonic values, which in turn were linked to SFC. Age moderated the mindfulness-value relationships, with these associations being stronger under a limited FTP. This pattern is consistent with a synergistic association between older age, a constrained FTP, and mindfulness in relation to heightened value activation. The model accounted for substantial variance in SFC (sample 1, R2 = 61.4%; sample 2, R2 = 74.6%). Conclusions: This study suggests mindfulness as a key psychological correlate of SFC, with this relationship linked through the mediation of moral, health, and hedonic values. Age and a limited FTP moderate these relationships. The findings provide a foundational framework for designing age- and FTP-sensitive mindfulness interventions aimed at promoting SFC, particularly among older consumers.