Cecilia U D Stenfors

Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

2 papers in the library · 19 citations · publishing 2023-2024

Papers

Longitudinal associations between psychedelic use and meditation practices in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Psychological medicine April 1, 2024 Otto Simonsson, Walter Osika, Cecilia U D Stenfors et al. 15 citations

People who used psychedelics during a two-month period reported a greater increase in days of mindfulness meditation per week than those who did not. Among psychedelic users, experiencing personal insight during the most intense psychedelic session was linked to larger increases in both mindfulness and loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice. Conversely, more frequent loving-kindness or compassion meditation at the start of the study was associated with less severe feelings of death or dying during the subsequent psychedelic experience. These findings suggest a bidirectional relationship: psychedelics may boost meditation engagement, while meditation may reduce challenging psychedelic experiences.

DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723003082 Full text Psilocybin LSD Compassion Psychedelics hallucinogens +7

Altered states of leadership: mindfulness meditation, psychedelic use, and leadership development.

Frontiers in psychology January 1, 2023 Otto Simonsson, Cecilia U D Stenfors, Simon B Goldberg et al. 4 citations

Mindfulness meditation and psychedelic use are both associated with positive impacts on leadership, though through different mechanisms. In a representative sample of 3,150 managers in the US and UK, more lifetime hours of mindfulness meditation and greater psychological insight during the most intense psychedelic experience each independently predicted a positive leadership impact (odds ratios 2.33 and 3.49, respectively). Both practices shared subthemes such as improved focus, creativity, patience, empathy, and compassion. Unique to mindfulness were better sleep, stress reduction, and calming effects; unique to psychedelics were greater self-understanding, less hierarchical attitudes, and positive interpersonal changes. The cross-sectional design precludes causal conclusions, but the findings suggest complementary benefits for leadership development.

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1151626 Full text Meditation Psilocybin Psychedelics Leadership-development +4