Numerous studies have demonstrated that empathy and compassion are significant predictors of pro-environmental and sustainable behaviors. Nevertheless, these studies do not clarify how the relationship between empathy and compassion and consequent pro-social behavior develops. How can feeling the emotion of nature’s suffering move compassion and activate behaviors that support the environment? This study aimed to verify whether self-compassion could act as a mediator in the relationship between empathy with nature and compassion, which in turn is associated with pro-environmental behaviors. A serial mediation model was analyzed on a sample of N = 1213 individuals. The results showed that women had higher levels of empathy with nature, compassion, uncompassionate behaviors toward themselves, and pro-environmental behaviors than males. Furthermore, the serial mediation model was confirmed, demonstrating that our initial hypotheses were supported. Self-compassion and compassion served as partial mediators in the relationship between empathy with nature and pro-environmental behaviors. Additionally, we observed the direct effects of both empathy and self-compassion on pro-environmental behaviors. The findings suggest that fostering self-compassion and compassion through targeted interventions may enhance individuals’ pro-environmental behaviors, especially by leveraging their empathetic connection with nature. Clinicians and educators could integrate self-compassion training into programs aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.

Feeling the Nature to Foster Sustainability: The Mediating Role of (Self) Compassion / Ballarotto, Giulia; Ghezzi, Valerio; Velotti, Patrizia. - In: SUSTAINABILITY. - ISSN 2071-1050. - 17:1(2025). [10.3390/su17010351]

Feeling the Nature to Foster Sustainability: The Mediating Role of (Self) Compassion

Ballarotto, Giulia
;
Ghezzi, Valerio;Velotti, Patrizia
2025

Abstract

Numerous studies have demonstrated that empathy and compassion are significant predictors of pro-environmental and sustainable behaviors. Nevertheless, these studies do not clarify how the relationship between empathy and compassion and consequent pro-social behavior develops. How can feeling the emotion of nature’s suffering move compassion and activate behaviors that support the environment? This study aimed to verify whether self-compassion could act as a mediator in the relationship between empathy with nature and compassion, which in turn is associated with pro-environmental behaviors. A serial mediation model was analyzed on a sample of N = 1213 individuals. The results showed that women had higher levels of empathy with nature, compassion, uncompassionate behaviors toward themselves, and pro-environmental behaviors than males. Furthermore, the serial mediation model was confirmed, demonstrating that our initial hypotheses were supported. Self-compassion and compassion served as partial mediators in the relationship between empathy with nature and pro-environmental behaviors. Additionally, we observed the direct effects of both empathy and self-compassion on pro-environmental behaviors. The findings suggest that fostering self-compassion and compassion through targeted interventions may enhance individuals’ pro-environmental behaviors, especially by leveraging their empathetic connection with nature. Clinicians and educators could integrate self-compassion training into programs aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.
2025
compassion; empathy; pro-environmental behaviors; self-compassion; sustainable development
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Feeling the Nature to Foster Sustainability: The Mediating Role of (Self) Compassion / Ballarotto, Giulia; Ghezzi, Valerio; Velotti, Patrizia. - In: SUSTAINABILITY. - ISSN 2071-1050. - 17:1(2025). [10.3390/su17010351]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1732577
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