A quantitative exploration of the relationships between regular yoga practice, microdosing psychedelics, wellbeing and personality variables
Stephen Bright, Eyal Gringart, Emily Blatchford, Samantha Bettinson
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 339 |
| Population | Adults who self-identified as practicing yoga, microdosing psychedelics, both, or neither (control) |
| Interventions | Yoga microdosing psychedelics |
| Topics | Microdosing |
| Key findings | Yoga and microdosing groups scored significantly higher on psychological wellbeing and absorption than controls, and the combination of both was associated with the lowest depression and anxiety scores and the highest absorption scores. |
Abstract
Objective: The current study aimed to explore whether the subjective effects of microdosing psychedelics are comparable to those of yoga in relation to psychological wellbeing, depression, anxiety and stress. It also aimed to explore the relationship between yoga, microdosing and personality variables including neuroticism, openness and absorption.Method: The sample comprised 339 participants, yoga (n = 131), microdose (n = 69), microdose and yoga (n = 54) and control (n = 85). All completed an online survey concerning personality (M5-50 and Tellegen Absorption Scale), mood (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21) and wellbeing (Ryff Scales of Psychological Wellbeing).Results: The yoga and microdosing groups scored significantly higher on psychological wellbeing and absorption than did control. The microdosing and yoga group had lower depression scores than the microdose only group, and lower anxiety scores than the yoga only group. Furthermore, the microdosing and yoga group had the highest absorption score. Openness was significantly lower in the control group than in all other groups.Conclusions: While we cannot infer that yoga and microdosing leads to increased wellbeing, openness and absorption, or to decreased depression and anxiety, the findings suggest that the subjective effects of microdosing psychedelics are comparable to those of yoga and that the combination of both might be beneficial.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motives and Side-Effects of Microdosing With Psychedelics Among Users Psychedelic users with microdosing experience | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 1,116 |
| Microdosing psychedelics: Motivations, subjective effects and harm reduction People aged 16 years or older who had used psychedelics and could comprehend written... | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 525 |
| Psychedelic Microdosing: Prevalence and Subjective Effects Anonymous online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 2,347 |
| Self-Rated Effectiveness of Microdosing With Psychedelics for Mental and Physical Health Problems Among Microdosers Adults 18 or older diagnosed with at least one mental or physiological disorder by a... | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 410 |
| Microdosing psychedelics: Demographics, practices, and psychiatric comorbidities Adults recruited primarily from the online forum Reddit | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 909 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Exploring the relationship between microdosing, personality and emotional insight: A prospective study Journal of Psychedelic Studies March 26, 2021
- THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING AND THE MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE PRODUCED BY THE USE OF PSYCHEDELICS PSYCHOLOGICAL JOURNAL July 31, 2023