An evaluation of consumerism and lifestyle as correlates of a voluntary simplicity lifestyle

Data from a questionnaire were collected from 189 Japanese female undergraduates at a women’s university. They were 18, 19, or 20 years of age. The measures included a 22-item 7-point voluntary simplicity lifestyle scale, a 9-item 5-point scale of the evaluation of a voluntarily simple life, an 11-item 4-point scale of environmentally responsible consumerism and a 28-item 5-point scale of a nonsimplicity lifestyle. Factor analysis was conducted for each scale and Cronbach’s α coefficients were calculated for selected items associated with each scale. Both the evaluation of a voluntarily simple life and environmentally responsible consumerism were positively associated with a voluntary simplicity lifestyle and its 3 factors, that is, cautious attitudes in shopping, acceptance of self-sufficiency and a desire for a voluntarily simple life. A voluntary simplicity lifestyle was significantly associated with more than half of the nonsimplicity lifestyle statements.