#socialconnection — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #socialconnection, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: August 22, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Psychedelic raves act as a modern rite of passage with complex psychological effects, new research suggests
For frequent Israeli rave-goers who consume psychedelic drugs, the experience extends well beyond the hours spent dancing, with preparations beginning beforehand and physical, emotional, and social effects continuing after the party, according to a qualitative study in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment. Participants described both positive experiences, including greater confidence and social connection, and negative effects such as exhaustion, nausea, low mood, and problems concentrating.
Rave parties combine electronic dance music, prolonged dancing, and often highly stimulating social and visual environments. Psychedelic and other psychoactive drug use is also common in some rave settings. Previous research has documented risks such as adverse drug reactions alongside reports of belonging, identity change, and meaningful or transformative experiences.
Yet researchers have typically focused on what people experience while they are actually at a rave. Far less is known about the period before attendees arrive or what happens as they return to ordinary routines afterward. That gap is particularly important because preparation can influence drug-related risk, while difficult physical or psychological after-effects may not become apparent until the event is over.
Led by Yula Milshteyn of Bar-Ilan University in Israel, the researchers interviewed 27 Jewish Israeli rave attendees who regularly attended events and consumed psychedelic drugs. Participants were, on average, 38.3 years old; 18 were men and nine were women. Ten reported using MDMA at raves, 15 reported LSD, and two described using LSD or MDMA together with substances such as alcohol or marijuana.
Rather than using questionnaires with predetermined answers, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews and analyzed how participants described and interpreted their own experiences. The approach produced five broad themes before a rave and four afterward.
Milshteyn and Bensimon discovered that preparation was not merely practical. Participants described physical rituals and drug-related preparation, excitement and mixed bodily feelings, attempts to clear negative thoughts, social bonding with friends, and practical activities such as organizing food, clothing, water, and tents. The researchers interpreted these practices through the idea of a “rite of passage”: temporarily leaving ordinary routines before entering a distinctive social setting.
Afterward, experiences were equally varied. Participants reported tiredness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting in the days following events. Emotional accounts included joy, confidence, and empowerment, as well as less welcome experiences such as depression-like low mood and mood swings. Some people described positive changes in their creative or musical direction, while others reported reduced concentration and attention. Enhanced friendships and sociability formed another recurring theme.
The study therefore does not support a simple portrayal of rave experiences as either beneficial or harmful. The same participants could describe meaningful social or emotional changes alongside unpleasant physical and psychological consequences.
The researchers concluded that after the raves, “participants return to their normal life, yet with changes in physical, emotional, cognitive, and social aspects.”
Some limitations must be accounted for. For example, the sample was small, self-selected, and predominantly male. Furthermore, exact drug doses were not recorded, and no objective measurements of participants’ psychological or cognitive states were collected.
The study, “Preparations for rave music parties and consequences for attendees who consume psychedelic drugs,” was authored by Yula Milshteyn and Moshe Bensimon.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsychedelicRaves #RiteOfPassage #RaveCulture #PsychedelicResearch #DJMDMA #LSDExperiences #PostRaveEffects #SocialConnection #CreativeImpact #AfterMathRave
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DATE: August 15, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: The biology of fandom: Live sports synchronize spectator heart rates and elevate oxytocin
Attending a live sporting event is linked to changes in hormone levels and physiological alignment among fans. New research published in Translational Psychiatry suggests that watching a college basketball game is associated with shifts in oxytocin, a hormone involved in social bonding, alongside synchronized heart rates across the crowd. These physical changes tend to correspond with feelings of unity, enjoyment, and a desire to return for future games.
Oxytocin is a chemical messenger often referred to as a bonding hormone. It plays a role in social behavior, emotional regulation, and how humans connect with one another. Cortisol is a different hormone that serves as a primary indicator of physiological stress. Heart rate synchrony occurs when the cardiac rhythms of multiple people naturally align in response to shared experiences or emotions.
Medical treatments aiming to boost oxytocin through nasal sprays to help with social difficulties have produced mixed results in clinical settings. This inconsistency motivated scientists to look for everyday activities that might naturally stimulate the body’s own hormone production, known as endogenous oxytocin.
“Because clinical trials of intranasal oxytocin have produced modest and inconsistent effects, we became interested in natural, non-pharmacological ways of engaging the body’s own oxytocin system,” said Takashi Matsui, an associate professor at the Institute of Health and Sport Sciences at the University of Tsukuba in Japan.
Previous investigations into martial arts and competitive video gaming, or esports, provided a starting point for this project. “My own background in judo also shaped how I approached this research,” Matsui explained. “I have long been inspired by judo’s principles of Seiryoku-Zenyo, making the best use of one’s physical and mental energy, and Jita-Kyoei, mutual welfare and benefit, which have led me to view sport not only as a means of personal development but also as a setting for mutual growth and social connection.”
Sports events generate shared emotions and unified attention among large groups of people. “Our previous work found that judo practice promotes endogenous oxytocin release, while our subsequent research showed oxytocin release and heart-rate synchrony during face-to-face competitive and cooperative esports without physical contact,” Matsui said. “These findings led us to ask whether spectators might similarly become connected simply by sharing their attention and emotions at a live sporting event.”
The researchers observed 60 adult spectators, including 21 women, who attended one of two home collegiate basketball games at a university in Japan. “The study was conducted during TSUKUBA LIVE!, the University of Tsukuba’s home-game initiative,” Matsui noted. Most attendees were students or local residents rather than highly devoted fans. This allowed the scientists to study casual fandom rather than extreme sports devotion. To preserve the natural viewing experience, the researchers did not systematically control for factors like menstrual cycle phases or the use of hormonal contraceptives.
Before the game began, the attendees provided a saliva sample and filled out questionnaires about their current mood. The attendees also wore an optical heart rate sensor on their upper arm to continuously monitor their cardiovascular activity. At halftime and immediately after the game ended, the participants provided additional saliva samples and completed follow-up surveys. The researchers later analyzed the saliva for concentrations of oxytocin and cortisol.
The surveys asked attendees to rate their momentary enjoyment on a sliding scale. The participants also indicated their sense of unity with both the home and away teams, as well as with other fans, by choosing overlapping circles that represented interpersonal closeness. At the end of the game, the attendees answered questions about their level of immersion, known as a flow state. This concept describes a feeling of being completely focused and losing track of time.
Finally, the participants rated their intention to attend future games. To measure heart rate synchrony, the researchers mathematically calculated how closely the heart rate patterns of individuals sitting in the same physical section matched each other over time. They specifically looked at time lags to see if one person’s cardiovascular changes mirrored those of their neighbors. Following these measurements, the authors evaluated how the biological data related to the psychological survey responses.
The hormonal responses varied depending on an individual’s starting point. Spectators who began the event with relatively low oxytocin levels experienced an increase over the course of the game. Those who started with high baseline levels maintained those elevated concentrations throughout the event.
“What surprised me most was that oxytocin increased among spectators who began with lower levels and remained elevated among those who began with higher levels, without direct physical contact being required, a particularly notable finding because touch is one of the strongest natural stimuli for oxytocin release,” Matsui said.
At the same time, cortisol levels dropped across the board, resulting in an overall increase in the ratio of oxytocin to cortisol. The data provides evidence that live sports spectating shifts the body toward a socially receptive state rather than a stress-dominated one. Higher oxytocin levels corresponded with greater enjoyment and a stronger sense of unity with both the players and the fellow fans. Statistical models indicated that the increase in enjoyment provided a bridge connecting the oxytocin levels to the feelings of unity.
During the game, the cardiovascular rhythms of the spectators began to align. This synchrony increased during both halves of the basketball game, meaning that the patterns of the fans became more tightly matched from moment to moment. “Second, ‘heart-rate synchrony’ does not mean that everyone’s heart was beating at exactly the same rate or at the same instant,” Matsui clarified. “It means that their patterns of heart-rate change became increasingly similar over time.”
This physiological alignment was stronger among people attending the same game and sitting in the same section, suggesting it was a specific response to the shared local environment. The researchers found a positive association between the absolute levels of salivary oxytocin and the degree of heart rate synchrony among the crowd. People with lower baseline oxytocin showed the most pronounced connection between their hormone levels and their physiological alignment.
The alignment of heartbeats was also linked to psychological outcomes. During active play, closer heart rate alignment was associated with stronger unity toward the home team and a deeper state of immersion in the game. “At these games, spectators’ patterns of heart-rate change became more synchronized during and after play, while higher oxytocin levels and stronger synchrony were associated with greater enjoyment, a stronger sense of unity, and an intention to attend again,” Matsui said.
The authors noted that perceived unity seemed to connect the physical heart rate responses to the positive psychological experiences. “Moreover, these responses emerged not at an elite professional or international competition, but at local university basketball games involving largely casual spectators,” Matsui said. “World-class sporting events can generate extraordinary emotion and shared excitement, but attending them in person is difficult for most people.”
“Our findings suggest that people may not need to travel to a major global competition or watch elite athletes to experience the social value of live sport: even local university games may provide an accessible setting in which sharing attention and emotion is accompanied by coordinated hormonal, physiological, and psychological responses.”
The observational design means the findings do not guarantee that watching the game directly caused the hormonal and physiological changes. Other elements of the environment, such as the score, the crowd noise, or the time of day, could play a role. Natural daily rhythms typically cause cortisol levels to drop in the evening, which might explain some of the observed hormone shifts. Measuring oxytocin in saliva provides a convenient estimate, but it does not definitively map onto oxytocin levels in the brain.
The hormonal and biological shifts also differed from person to person. “First, our findings do not mean that watching a sporting event makes everyone’s oxytocin rise in the same way,” Matsui told PsyPost. “Spectators who began with higher levels maintained their elevated concentrations, whereas those who began with lower levels showed an increase.”
The study focused on young adults at a modest college game, so it remains unknown if similar biological alignment happens in larger professional sports environments. It is also uncertain how these findings might apply to more diverse age groups or highly passionate sports fans.
“Our current study showed that oxytocin responses differed according to spectators’ pre-game levels,” Matsui said. “Building on this finding, we are now examining additional factors, including age, previous experience playing the sport, whether the supported team wins or loses, and live versus at-home viewing, to understand when and for whom shared spectatorship fosters physiological synchrony and a sense of unity, and how viewing environments might strengthen this social connection and potentially help alleviate loneliness.”
Testing these biological markers in virtual or digital viewing settings could also offer insights into modern social connection. “From a translational perspective, we want to test whether heart-rate synchrony can serve as a scalable, non-invasive indicator of endogenous oxytocin-linked social engagement and guide low-burden, non-pharmacological approaches built around shared attention, collective emotion, and social exchange, from community sport to esports and socially engaging live streams,” Matsui said.
“Ultimately, through controlled studies with clinical researchers, we hope to evaluate whether carefully designed shared-viewing environments can support social connection among people with psychiatric or neurodevelopmental conditions involving difficulties in social functioning.”
“One reason I find sports spectatorship promising is that, unlike direct physical contact or active participation in sport, it can be accessible to people across differences in age, fitness, and playing ability,” Matsui said. “Live sport may therefore offer a valuable everyday setting for studying, and potentially supporting, how shared attention and emotion help people feel connected.” He added, “Because loneliness is a major health risk, accessible community sporting events may offer valuable everyday opportunities for people to feel part of something larger and connect with others.”
The study, “Endogenous oxytocin-linked heart-rate synchrony and social connection during live sports spectatorship,” was authored by Takashi Matsui, Takafumi Yamaguchi, Daisuke Funabashi, Shion Takahashi, Hiroki Matsuoka, Ren Takamizawa, Yukina Tachibana, Shohei Dobashi, Kiyonobu Kigoshi, Shinzo Yamada, and Hideki Takagi.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #EndogenousOxytocin #HeartRateSynchrony #LiveSportsScience #SportsFandom #SocialConnection #OxytocinResearch #UnityInSports #EsportsAndSports #PsychiatryResearch #LivestreamViewingBenefits
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Eventually, probably, likely someone will ask you why you have made the things you have made.
Check out my weekday daily #blog and read more in my post: Explain Yourself
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I've been kicking around the idea of a community built around belonging, curiosity, service, and genuine connection. A place where people can gather regularly, hear someone's story or learn something new, have thoughtful conversations over coffee, and build real friendships. Then once a month, instead of just talking about making our community better, we'd go volunteer or work on a local service project together.
Not a church. Not an anti-church. Not a political group.
Just neighbors creating the kind of community many of us wish we had.
Being based in Liberty, MO I've been calling the idea "Liberty Circle" because I love the symbolism of the circle. No one at the head. No one left outside. Just people coming together, making room for one another, and growing together.
Has anyone here been part of something like this? I'd love to hear what worked, what didn't, and what made people keep coming back.
#Community #Belonging #Humanism #CommunityBuilding #Volunteer #LibertyMO #Missouri #SocialConnection
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Stop struggling with awkward eye contact by using the ‘Triangle Method’
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The Cruelty of Not Intruding
Traveling abroad changed how I saw home. Returning from a family visit, I realized America's greatest deficit may not be economic or political but relational. Our celebration of independence often discourages everyday acts of care, leaving many surrounded by love, yet living with profound loneliness.https://lpixa.wordpress.com/2026/07/01/the-cruelty-of-not-intruding/
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Loneliness In Remote Workers Is Rising Here’s How To Combat Isolation When Working From Home
Loneliness Awareness Week is fast approaching and for many remote workers, isolation has become second nature. If you’re part of the work-from-home force and the loneliness has hit, here are our top tips to stay connected. For some people, working from home feels like a huge win: the flexibility, the work-life balance, the non-existent commute. But for others, being stuck at home alone all day, every day can feel like an isolating curse......Continue reading... By: Lily Smith Source: […]https://onlinemarketingscoops.com/2026/06/11/loneliness-in-remote-workers/
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THE EROSION OF CONNECTION: FRIENDSHIP'S DIMINISHING RETURN IN A LONELY AGE
People spend less time with friends in 2026. This causes more loneliness and health problems. Learn why.
#FriendshipRecession, #LonelinessEpidemic, #ModernLife, #SocialConnection, #MentalHealth
https://newsletter.tf/friendship-time-drops-under-60-mins-daily-loneliness/
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People now spend much less than 60 minutes daily with friends, a big drop from before. This makes loneliness worse.
#FriendshipRecession, #LonelinessEpidemic, #ModernLife, #SocialConnection, #MentalHealth
https://newsletter.tf/friendship-time-drops-under-60-mins-daily-loneliness/ -
Ipswich Cooking Group Strengthens Community Bonds Through Shared Meals
Arabic version: مجموعة الطهي في إبسويتش تعزز الروابط المجتمعية من خلال الوجبات المشتركة The Gailes Community House in Ipswich is fostering social connections through a weekly cooking group that has been operati…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Cooking #community #cookinggroup #Ipswich #Mentalhealth #socialconnection
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2585734/ipswich-cooking-group-strengthens-community-bonds-through-shared-meals/ -
In a world that magnifies division, gardens bring us together.
Have you ever visited a community garden?
- Yes
- Not Yetwww.globalactionplan.ie
#CommunityGardens #GrowTogether #Belonging #SocialConnection #Wellbeing
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Our hope is that our guidelines can elevate the importance of #socialconnection to the same level as basic public health practices such as exercising, not smoking and relying on a designated driver when you go out drinking with friends.
https://theconversation.com/we-created-health-guidelines-for-fighting-loneliness-heres-what-we-recommend-268560 -
🧑🤝🧑 30% der Baden-Württemberger sind von Einsamkeit betroffen – 8% Prozent davon besonders stark.
👉 Eine neue Studie der Bertelsmann Stiftung, die das Land in Auftrag gegeben hat, hat ergeben, dass v.a. soziale, gesundheitliche und wirtschaftliche Faktoren Einsamkeit begünstigen. Die Landesregierung nimmt das zum Anlass, einen großen Ideenwettbewerb zu starten und investiert dafür 750.000 Euro. Die Ideen sollen der Einsamkeit entgegenwirken – von folgenden Gruppen:
🧑🤝🧑 Menschen mit Migrationsgeschichte
🧑🤝🧑 Junge Menschen
🧑🤝🧑 Menschen mit Behinderungen / Menschen mit chronischen Erkrankungen sowie deren Angehörige
🧑🤝🧑 Ältere Menschen
🧑🤝🧑 Eltern in besonderen Lebenssituationen❗ Bewerbungen können bis zum 31.1.2026 über [email protected] eingereicht werden.
#Einsamkeit #MentalHealth #Loneliness #SocialConnection #Gesundheit -
Man's response to his girlfriend's hormonal breakdown taught 2.7 million people how to love again
https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/man-wins-with-crashout-response
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Planned a fun activity with friends. Laughter and good company is the best medicine. #friendsarefamily #socialconnection
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An Introduction to Tribalism for the Modern World That Has Forgotten It
https://sustainableviews.substack.com/p/an-introduction-to-tribalism-for
#HackerNews #Tribalism #ModernWorld #SocialDynamics #CommunityCulture #SocialConnection
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From Medications to Mindfulness: New Frontiers in Emotional and Social Care
#Neuroscience #EmotionalHealth #SocialBehavior #Neuroplasticity #MentalHealth #BrainResearch #Psychotherapy #DepressionTreatment #AutismSupport #SocialConnection #Mindfulness #Neurostimulation #PsychedelicTherapy #EmotionalIntelligence #MentalWellness #InnovationInHealth #ConnectAndHeal
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From Neurons to Society: Exploring the Brain’s Role in Empathy and Social Bonds
#SocialNeuroscience #Mindfulness #BrainPlasticity #Empathy #NeuroScience #MentalHealth #Compassion #Neuroplasticity #SocialConnection #SelfGrowth #ScientificDiscovery #HumanConnection
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Oh, the wondrous days when people connected over a crossword clue and not just a swipe! 📚✨ Diksha's musings on the profound link between #Hinge and fictional TV #nostalgia are sure to solve world hunger — or at least fill up a few idle minutes. 😏🔍 Thank goodness for the #innovation of reminiscing about the obvious!
https://www.dikshaupadhyay.com/p/matched-and-deleted #crosswordclue #socialconnection #humor #HackerNews #ngated -
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation [pdf] — https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf
#HackerNews #EpidemicOfLoneliness #SocialConnection #MentalHealth #Isolation #Awareness #Community -
I need time before I watch this because my heart aches too much in want.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW5EVNT--DA
#Andrewism #conviviality #RAK #RandomActsOfKindness #GetOrganised #OrganisedKindness #SocialSecurity #SocialSafety #SocialSupport #SocialConnection
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US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s final prescription: Build stronger communities to heal widespread unhappiness & boost physical and mental health. 💬🤝 Connection is not just emotional; it’s critical for well-being. #CommunityMatters #MentalHealth #Leadership #SocialConnection https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/07/health/surgeon-general-parting-prescription-community/index.html
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Loneliness and isolation rates among older Americans return to pre-pandemic levels, but still remain high https://www.psypost.org/loneliness-and-isolation-rates-among-older-americans-return-to-pre-pandemic-levels-but-still-remain-high/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Loneliness #MentalHealth #Isolation #OlderAdults #SocialConnection
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I love this article. In my suburb of #Adelaide, I acknowledge everyone, perhaps crossing the socially acceptable line discussed. In the nearby park chatting is permitted especially at the footbridge over the river where we are channeled to close proximity. The dog walkers actually gather and chat as a group and I look on in envy. We even have someone who walks with a parrot on their shoulder…
#SocialConnection #Polite #Säghej #SayHi #TalkingToNeighbours