How Anti-consumption Can Lead to Subjective Well-Being: A Closer Look at the Role of Time Orientation

Abstract Existing research shows contrasting evidence on the interconnections between anti-consumption and subjective well-being. Further, scant research exists on how time preferences might interact with anti-consumption and well-being. Using a quantitative survey with 333 UK participants (Study 1), we test hypotheses about how individuals’ temporal preferences, including long-term orientation and tendency to spend time meaningfully, impact the interconnection between anti-consumption and well-being. Results determine that spending time meaningfully mediates the relationship between anti-consumption and subjective well-being. Moreover, individuals who are more long-term orientated show lower levels of subjective well-being than individuals who are less long-term orientated. This is a counter-intuitive finding, which we test further (Study 2) using an experimental research design with a sample of 248 US participants. Results confirm that the relationship between anti-consumption and subjective well-being is mediated by spending time meaningfully. However, individuals who score high on frugality (a lifestyle related to both anti-consumption and long-term orientation) have a lower tendency to spend time meaningfully than individuals who score low on frugality. Our research contributes to the anti-consumption literature by clarifying the relationship between anti-consumption and subjective well-being and determining the significance of time preferences in this relationship. These contributions are significant, as they respond to calls for further research on the outcomes of anti-consumption and its interconnections with temporality.