International journal of environmental research and public health
December 16, 2019
Hannes Kettner, Sam Gandy, Eline C H M Haijen et al.
159 citations
People who use psychedelics report a stronger sense of connection to nature, and this increase lasts for at least two years. In a prospective online study, individuals planning to use a psychedelic completed questionnaires before and after their experience. Nature relatedness was significantly higher at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 2 years after the experience. The increase was linked to greater psychological well-being and depended on how strongly participants felt ego-dissolution and how much they perceived their natural surroundings during the acute psychedelic state. The findings suggest a causal, context-dependent effect of psychedelic use on nature relatedness, with implications for mental health treatments and planetary health.
International journal of environmental research and public health
June 13, 2021
Luís Carlos Matos, Jorge Pereira Machado, Fernando Jorge Monteiro et al.
34 citations
Non-contact biofield practices such as Reiki, therapeutic touch, healing touch, and external Qigong involve intentional and nonlocal interventions that may produce physiological changes through unknown mechanisms, possibly related to the body's neurovegetative feedback system. This narrative review provides a partial overview of the history, theory, and quantitative research strategies exploring these practices, aiming to stimulate further research to confirm or deny reported outcomes.
International journal of environmental research and public health
April 8, 2019
Stephen D Edwards
10 citations
Planetary healing motivated an investigation into the HeartMath Global Coherence Initiative. A single case study with limited data indicated the null hypothesis. Quantitative analysis of correlations between six global magnetometers and meditation records from Inner Balance and Global Coherence apps yielded unexpected trends, both significant and insignificant, toward global and local group coherence. Qualitative findings revealed variations on interrelated themes of wholeness, holistic healing, energy healing, and meditation. Interpretation of integrative findings indicated theoretical and practical support for the HeartMath mission of developing personal, social, and global coherence.
International journal of environmental research and public health
November 13, 2024
Rebecca Ciacchini, Ciro Conversano, Graziella Orrù et al.
5 citations
A mindfulness-based stress reduction program for people with chronic pain (fibromyalgia or low back pain) improved sleep quality and showed a marginal increase in trait mindfulness. The intervention reduced perceived stress differently between the two diagnostic groups, and it also reduced anxiety in those with fibromyalgia and depressive symptoms in those with low back pain. These results suggest that mindfulness-based approaches could be tailored for personalized pain management.
International journal of environmental research and public health
July 7, 2024
Beverley Martin, Blake Peck, Daniel Terry
5 citations
A scoping review of 17 studies examined whether yoga, as a contemplative practice in higher education, supports first-year medical and nursing students' well-being and self-knowledge during the transition from high school to university. Two themes emerged: physical practices and training, and barriers to success. The review suggests that yoga helps undergraduate students manage stress, and that the participatory, reflective processes embedded in the physical practice provide a framework for coping with the challenges of higher education.
International journal of environmental research and public health
December 14, 2024
Kamila Dvořáková, Laura García Valladares, Bethany Butzer et al.
3 citations
A professional development program combining self-compassion and mindfulness practices improved primary school teachers' well-being in the Czech Republic. Teachers who participated reported higher self-efficacy and self-compassion, and lower depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion immediately after the program compared to a control group. While the control group's subjective well-being worsened over the school year, the intervention group remained stable, suggesting a protective effect. The study involved 104 teachers from five schools, with outcomes measured before, immediately after, and five months following the program.
International journal of environmental research and public health
April 9, 2025
Ana Junça-Silva, Marisa Kulyk, António Caetano
2 citations
Morning meditation boosts positive affect and improves end-of-day vitality and mental health, especially when the preceding night's sleep was poor. In a study of 44 healthcare employees across five workdays, morning meditation was linked to higher positive affect, which in turn predicted better health indicators. Sleep quality moderated this effect: the benefit of meditation on mental health and vitality through positive affect was strongest after a poor night's sleep. The findings suggest that meditation micro-breaks are most helpful when sleep quality is low, offering a practical strategy for supporting well-being in high-stress workplaces.
International journal of environmental research and public health
March 27, 2025
Déborah Ducasse, Martin Leurent, Marie-Christine Picot et al.
1 citation
A French version of the Ontological Addiction Scale (OAS) was validated in 492 French adults with emotional or mood disorders. The scale measures ontological addiction, a dysfunctional self-concept where individuals see themselves as separate from their surroundings. The French OAS showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.89) and strong test-retest reliability, with a single-factor structure matching the original English version. A 12-item version also had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.81). Construct validity was supported by medium to large correlations with self-esteem, shame, perfectionism, and mindfulness. The French OAS is a robust tool for assessing ontological addiction in research and clinical practice.
International journal of environmental research and public health
October 16, 2024
Kasey D Klimo, Jessica Walls Wilson, Charlotte Farewell et al.
1 citation
An online mindfulness program adapted for LGBTQ+ adolescents, Learning to Breathe-Queer (L2B-Q), was tested in a pilot study with twenty participants. The program showed feasible recruitment and assessment retention, acceptable content with some delivery areas needing improvement, and was safe and tolerable. From before to after the intervention, adolescents reported decreased depression and anxiety, and improved intuitive eating, physical activity, and LGBTQ+ identity self-awareness, with moderate-to-large effects. The findings suggest that adapted mindfulness-based interventions can benefit LGBTQ+ youth and warrant further optimization and testing.
International journal of environmental research and public health
January 28, 2026
Brittany L Garcia, Maureen A Craig, Nicole Adams et al.
A multi-modal Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program for clinicians led to significant improvements in well-being, burnout, perceived stress, stress coping, resilience, and self-compassion at two months, with moderate-to-large effects. These benefits were maintained at eight months, six months after program completion, with small-to-moderate effects. Greater use of stress-management techniques and more days of meditation practice for at least 10 minutes were linked to larger improvements in well-being.
International journal of environmental research and public health
June 27, 2025
Rebecca Ciacchini, Silvia Villani, Mario Miniati et al.
College students experience high rates of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. A structured mindfulness-based program called Mindfulness Laboratory (MLAB) was delivered to 194 psychology students in Italy across online, hybrid, and in-person formats over three academic years. Among the 176 students who completed pre- and post-intervention assessments, improvements were observed in mindfulness, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression, with a smaller increase in resilience. Sleep quality remained unchanged, and self-compassion slightly declined. No significant differences emerged across the three delivery formats, indicating comparable effectiveness regardless of modality. These results suggest that mindfulness-based interventions are feasible and beneficial for university students.