Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings
Matthias Forstmann, Daniel Alexander Yudkin, Annayah Miranda Beatrice Prosser, S. Megan Heller, Molly J. Crockett
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 21, 2020 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1918477117 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractUsing psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin is linked to improved mood and stronger feelings of social connectedness in naturalistic settings. Across six multiday mass gatherings in the United States and the United Kingdom, over 1,200 participants were studied. Those who had taken psychedelics reported higher positive mood, an effect that occurred sequentially through transformative experiences and then increased social connectedness. The association was strongest for people who had used psychedelics within the previous 24 hours compared to the past week. The findings provide robust evidence that psychedelic use can have positive affective and social consequences in real-world contexts.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational field study Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,200 |
| Population | Participants at multiday mass gatherings in the United States and the United Kingdom |
| Keywords | Transformative learning Social connectedness Mood Naturalism Social psychology |
| Citations | 185 |
| Key finding | Psychedelic substance use was significantly associated with positive mood, mediated by transformative experience and increased social connectedness. |
Abstract
Past research suggests that use of psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin may have positive effects on mood and feelings of social connectedness. These psychological effects are thought to be highly sensitive to context, but robust and direct evidence for them in a naturalistic setting is scarce. In a series of field studies involving over 1,200 participants across six multiday mass gatherings in the United States and the United Kingdom, we investigated the effects of psychedelic substance use on transformative experience, social connectedness, and positive mood. This approach allowed us to test preregistered hypotheses with high ecological validity and statistical precision. Controlling for a host of demographic variables and the use of other psychoactive substances, we found that psychedelic substance use was significantly associated with positive mood—an effect sequentially mediated by self-reported transformative experience and increased social connectedness. These effects were particularly pronounced for those who had taken psychedelic substances within the last 24 h (compared to the last week). Overall, this research provides robust evidence for positive affective and social consequences of psychedelic substance use in naturalistic settings.