Associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables: A longitudinal study.
Otto Simonsson, Sankalp Chaturvedi, Peter S. Hendricks, Cecilia U.D. Stenfors, Walter Osika, Jayanth Narayanan, Roman Palitsky, Simon B. Goldberg
J Psychiatr Res March 17, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.03.025 via PubMed Central
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsychedelic use is linked to increases in weekly mindfulness and loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice, especially among people new to psychedelics or meditation. In a longitudinal study of 13,012 US adults aged 18–50, with 7,484 completing follow-up and 336 reporting psychedelic use during the two-month study, those who used psychedelics showed greater gains in meditation days. Among psychedelic users, higher baseline trait mindfulness and self-compassion predicted less severe challenging experiences and lower odds of psychedelic-related thoughts or attempts of self- or other-harm. However, for those already meditating, psychedelic use was associated with more meditation-related difficulties and impairments.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Longitudinal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 13,012 |
| Population | US residents aged 18–50 |
| Duration | Two-month study |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Consciousness Mystical experiences |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | Psychedelic use was associated with increases in weekly mindfulness and loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice, but also with greater meditation-related difficulties among baseline meditators. |
Abstract
Previous research has investigated associations between psychedelic experiences and meditation practice, but knowledge gaps remain. Using a longitudinal research design with a sample of US residents between 18 and 50 years old (N = 13,012), we investigated associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables. The follow-up survey was completed by 7484 respondents, of whom 336 reported psychedelic use during the two-month study. In covariate-adjusted regression models, psychedelic use was associated with greater increases in the number of days of mindfulness and loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice in the past week, especially among those with no prior experience of psychedelics or meditation. Among those who reported psychedelic use, trait mindfulness and trait self-compassion at baseline were associated with less severe challenging psychedelic experiences, as well as lower odds of psychedelic-occasioned thoughts or attempts of self- or other-harm. However, among those who practiced meditation at baseline, psychedelic use was associated with greater increases in past-week frequency of loving-kindness or compassion meditation-related difficulties and impairments. Future research is warranted. • Psychedelic use associated with increase in the number of past-week days of meditation practice • Psychedelic use associated with increase in loving-kindness or compassion meditation-related difficulties and impairments. • Trait mindfulness and self-compassion associated with less severe challenging psychedelic experiences.