Graduation Date
Fall 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Kinesiology
Committee Chair Name
Taylor Bloedon
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Rock Braithwaite
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Jill Anderson
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Psychedelics, Entheogens, Lifelong learning, Older adults, Health education, Perceptions, Attitudes, Rural, Beliefs, Community health, Psychedelic-assisted therapy, PAT, Ketamine, Psilocybin, LSD, Mescaline, DMT
Subject Categories
Kinesiology
Abstract
This study examined the impact of a three-week Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) health course, “Far Out” Medicine: The Science and History of Psychedelics, on midlife and older adult learners’ knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives regarding psychedelic and entheogenic substances. Eleven midlife and older adults (ages 40 - 80; M = 59.0, SD = 15.35) completed matched pre- and post-course surveys assessing demographic characteristics, factual knowledge, attitudes, personal willingness, and social or policy views. The sample was highly educated (1 associate, 5 bachelor’s, 3 master’s, and 2 doctoral degrees) and demonstrated strong internal consistency and response convergence across repeated measures. Knowledge increased significantly following the educational intervention, rising from a mean of 17.00 (SD = 7.69) to 27.91 (SD = 5.65), t(10) = 7.22, p < .001, with a large effect size (Hedges’ g = 2.01). Attitudes toward psychedelic-assisted therapy were already strongly positive at baseline and showed minimal change, reflecting a ceiling effect, while social and policy perspectives remained highly stable over time. Qualitative patterns and the stability of attitudinal factors suggest developmental characteristics consistent with gerotranscendence, including openness to existential exploration, reflective meaning-making, and curiosity about emerging therapies in later life. Findings indicate that short-term, evidence-based instruction can substantially enhance psychedelic health literacy among older adult learners, even when attitudes are already well-formed. This study highlights the potential for lifelong learning programs to bridge knowledge gaps, reduce stigma, support informed health decision-making, and cultivate psychologically enriching educational environments for aging populations.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Larrazolo, Dustin B., "Examining the impact of a health course on lifelong learner attitudes toward psychedelic and entheogenic substances" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2516.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2516