Self, Other, and Higher Power: A “Relational Triad” Moderates Associations Between Mystical Experience and Mental Health
Joshua Lipson, Thomas Ford, Miles Beattie, Luisa Garbowit, H. Gordon, Alexandra Kiley, Arielle Limberis, S. Shnayder, Lisa Miller
The international journal for the psychology of religion October 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/10508619.2024.2422171 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAmong 763 U.S. adults, three distinct profiles emerged: Transcendent Wellness, Transcendent Struggle, and Non-Transcendent Wellness. The Transcendent Wellness profile showed higher belongingness, mindfulness, and lived/integrated spirituality than the Transcendent Struggle profile. Belongingness and mindfulness reduced the positive link between mystical experience and depression and anxiety symptoms. Lived/integrated spirituality also weakened this link, especially for anxiety. Conventional religiosity did not show the same moderating effects. The authors propose that relationally grounded spirituality—connection to others, self, and a higher power—supports processing and sense-making of mystical experiences.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 763 |
| Population | U.S. adults from the general population |
| Keywords | Psychology |
| Key finding | Belongingness, mindfulness, and lived/integrated spirituality mitigate the positive association between mystical experience and depression and anxiety symptoms. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT The present study aimed to characterize the relationship between mystical experience and psychopathology measures in a general-population sample of 763 U.S. adults. The participants were assessed across various domains including psychopathology, spirituality, personality, and life experience. The analysis revealed three distinct profiles among individuals: Transcendent Wellness, Transcendent Struggle, and Non-Transcendent Wellness. The Transcendent Wellness profile demonstrated higher scores in belongingness, mindfulness, and lived/integrated spirituality compared to the Transcendent Struggle profile. Belongingness and mindfulness were identified as mitigating factors, reducing the positive association between mystical experience and depression and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, lived/integrated spirituality attenuated this association, particularly in relation to anxiety. Conventional religiosity measures, however, did not exhibit the same moderating effects. The authors propose a framework in which relationally grounded spirituality, manifesting in the form of connection to fellow human, self, and higher power, constitutes a foundation for processing of and sense-making around mystical experience.