Participation in an indigenous Amazonian led ayahuasca retreat associated with increases in nature relatedness - a pilot study
This preprint (n=58) assessed the association between participation in an ayahuasca retreat in a traditional indigenous Amazonian context and how it is related to nature-relatedness. Retreat participation was associated with increases in nature-relatedness, mindfulness and improvements in depression and anxiety.
Abstract
Indigenous Amazonian shamanic ayahuasca practice is deeply rooted in nature and it is employed as an ecological mediating agent and in collective environmental decision-making processes by some of the groups that use it. Phenomenologically, the ayahuasca experience is often rich in nature-based themes and content, and its usage has been associated with eliciting shifts in perspectives and attitudes towards nature. In this proof of concept study, participation in an ayahuasca retreat in a traditional indigenous Amazonian context (with a mean of 5.85 ceremonies attended) was associated with significant increases in nature relatedness (n = 24; Cohen’s d = .51) and mindfulness (n = 38; Cohen’s d = .75), and improvements in depression (n = 47; Cohen’s d = 1.18), state anxiety (n = 47; Cohen’s d = 1.02), and trait anxiety (n = 42; Cohen’s d = .88). Furthermore, significant negative correlations were found between changes in nature relatedness and depression (r = .623, p = .001), state anxiety (r = -.542, p = .008), and trait anxiety (r = -.485, p = .022), with a significant positive correlation between change in nature relatedness and mindfulness (r = .747, p = .001). It is currently unclear if the changes seen were due to consumption of the brew, participation in ceremony, or the retreat setting itself. Although this pilot study suggests a potential therapeutic role for Amazonian ayahuasca retreats as a multidimensional intervention, further work is required to assess the role of possible mediators underlying such shifts, while evaluating to what extent these are sustained long-term.
Research Summary of 'Participation in an indigenous Amazonian led ayahuasca retreat associated with increases in nature relatedness - a pilot study'
Introduction
Human psychological disconnection from the natural world has been linked to environmental degradation and poorer mental health, yet scalable interventions to restore this connection are limited. Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian psychedelic brew containing DMT and beta-carboline MAOIs, is commonly used in shamanic contexts that emphasise human–nature interconnection. Previous work has reported that psychedelic and specifically ayahuasca experiences often contain pronounced nature-based phenomenology, and that higher nature relatedness (a trait reflecting self-identification with and appreciation of the natural world) is associated with better wellbeing and pro-environmental attitudes. This pilot study set out to prospectively assess whether participation in indigenous Amazonian shaman‑led ayahuasca retreats in the Peruvian Amazon is associated with changes in nature relatedness. Ruffell and colleagues also evaluated whether concurrent changes in mystical experience, mindfulness, depression, and state and trait anxiety were associated with shifts in nature relatedness. Based on prior literature, the investigators hypothesised that retreat participation would increase nature relatedness.
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Study Details
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Ruffell, S., Gandy, S., Tsang, W., Netzband, N., & Hollingdale, J. (2022). Participation in an indigenous Amazonian led ayahuasca retreat associated with increases in nature relatedness - a pilot study. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/mytnf
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