Background: Naturalistic psychedelic use can result in a range of difficulties that impair social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning. Yet, the prevalence, phenomenology, and etiology of these outcomes remain poorly understood. Recent qualitative research has shown that individuals with long-term difficulties after psychedelic use sometimes attribute their challenges to childhood trauma. Further studies are needed to investigate these relationships.

Methods: In this cross-sectional mixed-methods study of U.S. adults with lifetime psychedelic use (n = 3168), we examined the prevalence, duration, and nature of psychedelic-related difficulties, as well as associations with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

Results: Of all participants (n = 3168), most (n = 2785, 87.9 %) reported no difficulties; 6.4 % (n = 203) reported post-acute difficulties that lasted for more than one day, and 1.3 % (n = 40) for more than one year. Among those who reported difficulties (n = 383), 47 % (n = 180) reported that their difficulties resolved in one day or less. The most frequently reported post-acute difficulties were general anxiety (33.9 %), negative changes in self-concept (25.9 %), and social disconnection (23.0 %). In covariate-adjusted regression models, 2 ACEs (aOR: 2.24, p = 0.007), 3 ACEs (aOR: 2.27, p = 0.006), and ≥4 ACEs (aOR: 2.84, p < 0.001) were associated with higher odds of psychedelic-related difficulties compared to 0 ACEs. ≥4 ACEs were also associated with higher odds of difficulties that lasted more than one day (aOR: 2.37, p = 0.015) and more than one week (aOR: 2.89, p = 0.042).

Conclusion: There are a range of difficulties that can follow psychedelic use and childhood adversity may represent a risk factor for persistent adverse effects.

Previous research has investigated associations between psychedelic experiences and meditation practice, but knowledge gaps remain. Using a longitudinal research design with a sample of US residents between 18 and 50 years old (N = 13,012), we investigated associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables. The follow-up survey was completed by 7484 respondents, of whom 336 reported psychedelic use during the two-month study. In covariate-adjusted regression models, psychedelic use was associated with greater increases in the number of days of mindfulness and loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice in the past week, especially among those with no prior experience of psychedelics or meditation. Among those who reported psychedelic use, trait mindfulness and trait self-compassion at baseline were associated with less severe challenging psychedelic experiences, as well as lower odds of psychedelic-occasioned thoughts or attempts of self- or other-harm. However, among those who practiced meditation at baseline, psychedelic use was associated with greater increases in past-week frequency of loving-kindness or compassion meditation-related difficulties and impairments. Future research is warranted.

Aims Spending time in natural environments has been linked to mental health benefits, and may have been an important resilience factor during the COVID-19 pandemic, but longitudinal studies are limited. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the development of nature-related habits and their relationship to different mental health outcomes before and during early and later phases of COVID-19 (2019–2022). Furthermore, the buffering potential of nature-related habits on effects of major life events on mental health outcomes was investigated.

Subject and methods A subsample of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) was studied during 2018–2022, including follow-ups in early 2021 (n  = 1902) and 2022 (n = 1580). Visits to various types of nature, mental health outcomes (symptoms of depression, anxiety, loneliness, sleep difficulties), and major life events were analyzed across the study period while controlling for confounders.

Results Greater overall engagement in nature visits, particularly visiting forests or using one’s garden, was associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and sleep problems in early 2021 and 2022.

Importantly, changes in nature visits were consistently negatively associated with investigated mental health outcomes across the study period. All nature visits, except for garden time, increased in the long term (2019–2022). Visiting forests also increased in the short term, while overall nature visits initially decreased (2019–2020).

Conclusion Generally, nature visits increased longitudinally and were associated with better mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the importance of green- and blue-space accessibility for facilitating outdoor recreation in natural environments, to support resilience and public health during pandemics.

Background: Exposures to natural environments such as green space provide multiple ecosystem services and are associated with a range of health benefits. However, population-based studies assessing the role of residential greenspace dimensions on health outcomes and buffering of urban stressors, using high-resolution individual-level environmental exposures assessments have been limited.

Purpose & methods: To assess the associated health impacts and socioeconomic correlates of objectively measured high-resolution individual-level residential environmental exposures, incl. greenspace land cover and ambient noise, and behavior-related exposure to different types of natural environments, across a set of population-based longitudinal studies on cohorts in Sweden (≈120 000). Measures included spatial residential greenspace qualities, health outcomes incl. objective prescription medication purchase for common mental health problems, dementia and self-reported symptoms; nature visits, health behaviors, individual and neighborhood socioeconomic factors.

Results & discussion: Across studies, residential greenspace was associated with lower psychopharmacological prescription medication purchases and less symptoms, especially relating to the immediate residential surrounding, and buffering against ambient noise. Socioeconomic factors were associated with residential greenspace. Behavior-related greenspace exposure, incl. spending time in forests, were important for several aspects of mental health and health behaviors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results provide practical guidance regarding greenspace dimensions and highlight the role of the immediate residential surroundings, as well as access to high quality greenspaces (i.e. larger coherent green areas) for mental and behavioral health.

The multiple pathways through which greenspace qualities can affect human and planetary health and sustainability need to be adequately considered in policy and implementation.

Background: Findings from contemporary clinical trials suggest that psychedelics are generally safe and may be effective in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. However, less is known about the risks associated with psychedelic use outside of medically supervised contexts, particularly in populations that are typically excluded from participation in clinical trials.

Methods: Using a preregistered longitudinal observational research design with a purposive sample of US residents between 18 and 50 years old (N=21,990), we investigated associations between self-reported naturalistic psychedelic use and psychotic and manic symptoms, with emphasis on those with psychiatric histories of schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder.

Results: The follow-up survey was completed by 12,345 participants (56% retention), with 505 participants reporting psychedelic use during the 2-month study period. In covariate-adjusted regression models, psychedelic use during the study period was associated with increases in the severity of psychotic and manic symptoms. However, such increases were only observed for those who reported psychedelic use in an illegal context. While increases in the severity of psychotic symptoms appeared to depend on the frequency of use and the intensity of challenging psychedelic experiences, increases in the severity of manic symptoms appeared to be moderated by a personal history of schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder and the subjective experience of insight during a psychedelic experience.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that naturalistic psychedelic use specifically in illegal contexts may lead to increases in the severity of psychotic and manic symptoms. Such increases may depend on the frequency of use, the acute subjective psychedelic experience, and psychiatric history.

Non-technical summary. This study addresses the challenge of climate change by exploring how psychological qualities and meditation practices may influence pro-environmental behavior among decision-makers, by surveying 185 participants. The research found that meditation practices and compassion toward others are linked to more pro-environmental actions. Nature connectedness emerged as a key factor related to enhanced mindfulness, compassion toward others and self, and environmental efforts. Additionally, pro-environmental efforts at work were related to more engagement across the organization, including management. These findings highlight the potential of integrating personal growth practices into sustainability promoting strategies, suggesting that fostering compassion and mindfulness may support pro-environmental action.

Technical summary. Current policy approaches addressing climate change have been insufficient. Integrative approaches linking inner and outer factors of behavior change, both at the private and organizational level, have been called for. The aim of the present study was thus to conceptualize and test a model of interlinkages between trainable transformative psychological qualities, meditation practice, wellbeing, stress, and pro-environmental behaviors in the private and organizational context, among decision-makers (N = 185) who responded to a survey of self-completion measures covering the topics above. Results show that meditation practices and longer practice duration were associated with more pro-environmental behavior, mindfulness facets, and wellbeing. Mindfulness facets and self-compassion were associated with higher wellbeing and lower stress, but not pro-environmental behavior. Importantly, higher compassion toward others was associated with more pro-environmental behavior but was not associated with own wellbeing and stress. Greater nature connectedness was associated with more pro-environmental behavior in private- and work life, mindfulness facets, compassion toward others, self-compassion, and longer meditation duration. Furthermore, at work, personal pro-environmental efforts were associated with such efforts by others in the organization, including management, and such efforts were also associated with overall integration of sustainability work in the organization. The results can help guide future interventions.

Social media summary. Nature connectedness, compassion toward others, and meditation related to private and work life pro-environmental behaviors.

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions posed challenges to people’s private and work lives. This included a rapid shift from on-site to remote work for many working adults in Sweden and internationally, and limited opportunities for indoor social and leisure activities. This involved risks for increased loneliness and social isolation, particularly among those mainly working remotely. In this context, nature visits may mitigate loneliness. This study adds to existing research in investigating whether a higher degree of remote work during COVID-19 was related to increased loneliness and whether nature visits mitigated loneliness, especially for those who mainly worked remotely. Subject and methods: The sample comprised a subsample of respondents to the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health 2020 (n = 984). Nature-related habits (NRH) were measured using self-reported frequency of visits to various natural environments. The effect of remote work, NRH, and time on loneliness (before – during COVID-19) was analyzed using linear mixed models while controlling for confounders. Results: Loneliness levels during COVID-19 were highest and increased the most compared to before the pandemic among individuals with the greatest degree of working remotely. Engaging daily in NRH was associated with lower loneliness levels, particularly among individuals mostly working remotely. This was observed in a three-way interaction effect between remote work, NRH, and time on loneliness. Conclusion: Daily nature visits may protect against loneliness during and beyond crises like COVID-19, particularly for those mainly working remotely. Policies preserving and facilitating access to nature may promote resilience during and beyond crises like COVID-19.

Background: Exposure to natural environments such as green (vegetation) and blue (water) space provide multiple ecosystem services and are associated with a range of human health benefits. However, population-based studies investigating high-resolution, individual-level residential greenspace and potential buffering effects against urban stressors have been limited.

Objectives & methods: In a set of population-based longitudinal studies, on nationwide cohorts in Sweden (≈130 000), objective high-resolution individual-level residential greenspace land cover assessments were made. The role of spatial residential greenspace qualities was investigated longitudinally for: 1) objective prescription medication purchase for common mental health problems, and 2) self-reported symptoms. Moreover, potential buffering effects against urban stressors, and behaviour-related use and exposure to different types of natural environments were assessed in a sub-cohort, and their significance for mental health indicators.

Results & discussion: Results across studies show residential greenspace is associated with lower psychopharmacological prescription medication purchases and less symptoms, especially relating to the immediate residential surrounding, and buffering against urban noise. Behaviour related exposure, incl. spending time in forests and residential garden were important for several aspects of mental health and health behaviours, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. Results highlight the role of greenspace in the immediate residential surroundings, as well as access to high quality greenspaces (i.e. larger coherent green areas) for mental health and health related behaviours. The multiple pathways through which different greenspace qualities can affect human health and contribute to human and environmental resilience should be considered in policy and implementation.

Background: Residential greenness is linked to health, but its relationships with environmental exposures and lifestyle factors—often treated as confounders or mediators—are less clear.ObjectiveWe investigated the associations between residential greenness and air pollution, traffic noise and lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activity) at six study sites in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), using waist circumference as an illustrative outcome.

Methods: Greenness assessment was based on the average 5-year pre-recruitment values of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 250 m buffers around participants’ residences (n = 29,376; 50–65 years). We used linear regression to estimate associations between NDVI and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), respirable particulate matter (PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) road traffic noise (L_den), and waist circumference; logistic regression to estimate associations between NDVI and smoking, alcohol consumption and sedentary lifestyle.

Results: NDVI (mean 0.47; range 0.08–0.79) varied across SCAPIS sites. Higher greenness was associated with lower air pollution and traffic noise and lower smoking and alcohol consumption, but not with sedentary lifestyle. Waist circumference (mean 89.4 cm in women; 99.7 cm in men) differed by site, but showed no independent association with greenness, after adjustment for urbanicity, site and socioeconomic variables. SCAPIS participants more often lived in urban, less green areas than the general population.

Significance: Greenness relates to environmental and lifestyle factors, partly in site-specific ways, underscoring the need to carefully consider what we adjust for in greenness epidemiology.

Background: Previous research has proposed that there may be potential synergies between psychedelic and meditation interventions, but there are still knowledge gaps that merit further investigation. Methods: Using a longitudinal observational research design with samples representative of the US and UK adult population with regard to sex, age, and ethnicity (N = 9732), we investigated potential associations between self-reported psychedelic use and meditation practice. Results: The follow-up survey was completed by 7667 respondents (79% retention rate), with 100 respondents reporting psychedelic use during the 2-month study period (1.3% of follow-up respondents). In covariate-adjusted regression models, psychedelic use during the study period was associated with greater increases in the number of days of mindfulness meditation practice in the past week (B = 0.40, p = 0.004). Among those who reported psychedelic use during the study period, covariate-adjusted regression models revealed that the subjective experience of insight during respondents' most intense psychedelic experience in that period was also associated with greater increases in the number of days of mindfulness and loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice in the past week (B = 0.42, p = 0.021; B = 0.38, p = 0.017). Notably, more days of loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice in the past week at baseline was associated with less severe subjective feelings of death or dying during respondents' most intense psychedelic experience in the study period (B = -0.29, p = 0.037). Conclusions: Psychedelic use might lead to greater engagement with meditation practices such as mindfulness meditation, while meditation practices such as loving-kindness or compassion medication might buffer against certain challenging experiences associated with psychedelic use.