Self-reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self-regard

Background Interoception, the perception of bodily functions and sensations, is a crucial contributor to cognition, emotion, and well-being. However, the relationship between these three processes is not well understood. Further, it is increasingly clear that dimensions of interoception differential...

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Main Author: Erik M. Benau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2023-05-01
Series:PeerJ
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Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/15348.pdf
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author Erik M. Benau
author_facet Erik M. Benau
author_sort Erik M. Benau
collection DOAJ
description Background Interoception, the perception of bodily functions and sensations, is a crucial contributor to cognition, emotion, and well-being. However, the relationship between these three processes is not well understood. Further, it is increasingly clear that dimensions of interoception differentially corresponds to these processes, yet this is only recently being explored. The present study addresses two important questions: Are subjective interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention related to self-regard and well-being? And are they related to exteroceptive (visual) attention? Methods Participants (N = 98; 29% women; aged 23–64 years) completed: a battery of questionnaires to assess subjective accuracy (how well one predicts bodily sensations), interoceptive attention (a tendency to notice bodily signals), self-regard (self-esteem, self-image, life satisfaction), state negative affect (depression, anxiety, and stress), a self-esteem Implicit Association Task (a measure of implicit self-esteem), and a flanker task to assess visual selective attention. Subjective interoceptive accuracy and attention served as dependent variables. Correlations and principal component analysis was used to establish correlations among variables and determine how, or whether, these measures are associated with subjective interoceptive accuracy or attention. Results Greater scores on measures of self-regard, implicit self-esteem, cognition and lower negative affect were broadly associated with greater subjective interoceptive accuracy. Conversely, only explicit self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and self-image corresponded to subjective interoceptive attention. An exploratory analysis with a more inclusive scale of interoceptive attention was conducted. Results of this exploratory analysis showed that the broader measure was a stronger correlate to self-regard than subjective interoceptive accuracy, though it, too, did not correlate with visual attention. In short, both subjective interoceptive accuracy and attention corresponded to well-being and mental health, but only accuracy was associated with exteroceptive attention. Conclusion These results add to a growing literature suggesting different dimensions of (subjective) interoception differentially correspond to indices of well-being. The links between exteroceptive and interoceptive attention, and their association with merit further study.
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spelling doaj.art-116f266550364658b0f92468df244f262023-12-03T11:13:05ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592023-05-0111e1534810.7717/peerj.15348Self-reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self-regardErik M. Benau0Psychology, State University of New York at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States of AmericaBackground Interoception, the perception of bodily functions and sensations, is a crucial contributor to cognition, emotion, and well-being. However, the relationship between these three processes is not well understood. Further, it is increasingly clear that dimensions of interoception differentially corresponds to these processes, yet this is only recently being explored. The present study addresses two important questions: Are subjective interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention related to self-regard and well-being? And are they related to exteroceptive (visual) attention? Methods Participants (N = 98; 29% women; aged 23–64 years) completed: a battery of questionnaires to assess subjective accuracy (how well one predicts bodily sensations), interoceptive attention (a tendency to notice bodily signals), self-regard (self-esteem, self-image, life satisfaction), state negative affect (depression, anxiety, and stress), a self-esteem Implicit Association Task (a measure of implicit self-esteem), and a flanker task to assess visual selective attention. Subjective interoceptive accuracy and attention served as dependent variables. Correlations and principal component analysis was used to establish correlations among variables and determine how, or whether, these measures are associated with subjective interoceptive accuracy or attention. Results Greater scores on measures of self-regard, implicit self-esteem, cognition and lower negative affect were broadly associated with greater subjective interoceptive accuracy. Conversely, only explicit self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and self-image corresponded to subjective interoceptive attention. An exploratory analysis with a more inclusive scale of interoceptive attention was conducted. Results of this exploratory analysis showed that the broader measure was a stronger correlate to self-regard than subjective interoceptive accuracy, though it, too, did not correlate with visual attention. In short, both subjective interoceptive accuracy and attention corresponded to well-being and mental health, but only accuracy was associated with exteroceptive attention. Conclusion These results add to a growing literature suggesting different dimensions of (subjective) interoception differentially correspond to indices of well-being. The links between exteroceptive and interoceptive attention, and their association with merit further study.https://peerj.com/articles/15348.pdfSelf-esteemSelf-imageNegative affectSelective attentionImplicit association task
spellingShingle Erik M. Benau
Self-reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self-regard
PeerJ
Self-esteem
Self-image
Negative affect
Selective attention
Implicit association task
title Self-reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self-regard
title_full Self-reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self-regard
title_fullStr Self-reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self-regard
title_full_unstemmed Self-reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self-regard
title_short Self-reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self-regard
title_sort self reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self regard
topic Self-esteem
Self-image
Negative affect
Selective attention
Implicit association task
url https://peerj.com/articles/15348.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT erikmbenau selfreportedinteroceptiveaccuracyandinteroceptiveattentiondifferentiallycorrespondtomeasuresofvisualattentionandselfregard