Factor analysis of the MEQ43 suggests non-psychedelic mystical experiences are different from psychedelic mystical experiences
Consciousness Spirituality & Transpersonal Psychology November 17, 2023 DOI: 10.53074/cstp.2023.63 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 25-item version of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ25) better captures non-psychedelic mystical experiences than the existing 30-item version (MEQ30). Confirmatory factor analysis showed the MEQ30 did not fit data from 136 participants who reported a non-psychedelic mystical experience. Exploratory factor analysis of the 43-item pool yielded a four-factor structure with 25 items: Sacred Unity, Noetic Quality, Time-Space Transcendence, and Ineffable and Paradoxical. The MEQ25 demonstrated excellent internal reliability (α = .93) and strong convergent validity with the M-Scale. The separate noetic quality factor is considered a salient and therapeutic aspect of mystical experience, and the refined time-space subscale better reflects theory and subjective experience of non-psychedelic mystical experiences.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 136 |
| Population | Adults who reported a non-psychedelic mystical experience |
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Exploratory factor analysis Confirmatory factor analysis Scale ratio Transcendence philosophy |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | The 25-item MEQ25, with four factors including a separate noetic quality factor, is more appropriate than the MEQ30 for measuring non-psychedelic mystical experiences. |
Abstract
This study aimed to determine whether the 30-item Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) is suitable for measuring non-psychedelic mystical experiences or whether a subset of questions from the 43-item Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ43) is more appropriate. Participants (N = 136) completed an online survey about their non-psychedelic mystical experience, which included the MEQ43 and its subset of items that make up the MEQ30. Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed that the MEQ30 was not a good fit for the present study’s non-psychedelic sample. Exploratory Factor Analysis of the MEQ43 suggested that an alternative set of items and corresponding factors may be more appropriate. In the new four-factor instrument (MEQ25), 25 items account for all MEQ43 factors. The new factors are Sacred Unity, Noetic Quality, Time-Space Transcendence, and Ineffable and Paradoxical. The new scale demonstrated excellent internal reliability (α = .93) and strong convergent validity with the M-Scale. The new scale is unique because it has a separate factor for noetic quality, which is considered a salient and therapeutic aspect of mystical experience. Furthermore, the refined time-space subscale better reflects the theory and subjective experience of non-psychedelic mystical experiences.