ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1588-4553

Date of Award

Spring 2025

Language

English

Embargo Period

3-27-2025

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

College/School/Department

Department of Psychology

Program

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Mitch Earleywine

Committee Members

Sarah Domoff

Keywords

mystical experience, factor analysis, psychedelic therapy, wellbeing

Subject Categories

Other Psychiatry and Psychology

Abstract

Many participants in clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) report mystical experiences. Researchers often use the 30-item Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) to measure mystical experiences. Several studies have validated a four-factor structure of the MEQ-30, but only as a subset of items within broader versions of the scale (e.g., MEQ-43). As such, the factor structure of the standalone MEQ-30 remains unvalidated in English. Additionally, some data suggest that certain factors might be more strongly associated with psychedelic-associated outcomes than others, which could provide insight to enhance the therapeutic potential of PAT. The aim of this study was to examine the factor structure of the standalone MEQ-30 and investigate the relationship between its individual factors, their two-way interactions, and recalled changes in wellbeing following a significant psychedelic experience. Participants (N=585) responded on Prolific and passed two attention check items. Our exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed a four-factor structure of the MEQ-30, but several items loaded onto multiple factors, indicating a weak replication. All factors except Transcendence of Time and Space predicted changes in wellbeing. Significant two-way interactions emerged between the Mystical and the Positive Mood factors, and Mystical and Ineffability factors. Results suggest that mystical experiences likely have a larger impact on wellbeing when they accompany positive mood, supporting efforts to enhance set and setting in PAT. This study emphasizes the potential value of examining the latent factors of the MEQ-30, but overlapping items should be reconsidered to enhance its psychometric soundness.

License

This work is licensed under the University at Albany Standard Author Agreement.

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