There is a growing need in the field of psychedelic science for a unifying perspective of overall well-being to pull together the varied benefits of psychedelic experiences. We also need a better consideration of the unique role of integration for promoting benefits.

 

The eudaimonic approach proposes that the stories we create about who we are (self-insight) and who we can become (personal development) are essential for reaching high well-being. 

 

We recruited 750 participants recruited from websites and social media forums. 

Results indicated that perceived benefits to narrative self-functioning (insight and development striving) is one pathway through which integration of psychedelic experience may promote optimal well-being or Self-Actualization, for both clinical and non-clinical populations.

 

**Exploratory analyses indicated that integration techniques that are more self-referential in nature are the ones that indirectly relate to optimal well-being via perceived benefits.

 

The results of the present study should be interpreted as a preliminary model for future longitudinal research to test, as our cross-sectional methods preclude any causal inferences to be made from these mediation analyses.