How Meaning Turns Out-of-Body Experiences into Life Change: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study
Jenny Moix, Claudia Rodríguez Rodríguez
Journal of Consciousness Studies September 29, 2026 DOI: 10.53765/20512201.33.9.060 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Healthy adults who had experienced spontaneous out-of-body experiences |
| Key findings | The authors argue that out-of-body experiences were transformative only for participants who reported complex experiences involving both displacement and entities and who interpreted them within a transcendental framework; those with simple experiences or a psychological interpretation showed no major change. All participants reported difficulty sharing the experience for fear of disbelief or judgment. |
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are vivid and extraordinary events that may lead to psychological transformation, though not all individuals who report them undergo lasting change. This qualitative study explores when and how OBEs become transformative. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten healthy adults who had experienced spontaneous OBEs. Thematic analysis focused on three variables: frequency, phenomenological complexity, and subjective interpretation. Findings suggest that transformation occurred only in those who reported complex OBEs involving both displacement and entities) and interpreted them within a transcendental framework. Participants with simple OBEs or a psychological interpretation showed no major change. All reported difficulties sharing their experience, often fearing disbelief or judgment. This highlights the importance of creating non-pathologizing environments where individuals can make meaning of such experiences, since interpretation appears to mediate their transformative impact.