Interoceptive awareness in a Norwegian population: psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) 2

Abstract

Background Interoception plays a vital role in human cognition and emotion and is an increasingly important part of clinical studies of mind–body approaches and mental health. Interoceptive awareness (IA) encompasses numerous mind–body components and can be assessed by employing a self-report measure such as the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), which has been adapted and validated across several countries and is used in experimental and clinical settings. In this study, the MAIA-2, which was developed due to the psychometric shortages of MAIA, was thoroughly translated, and its psychometric features were examined in a sample of 306 Norwegian-speaking participants (81% females, ages 16 through 66 plus). Methods The participants completed the MAIA-2 Norwegian version (MAIA-2-N) and the COOP/WONCA Functional Assessment Charts measuring psychological, physical, and overall health. The following psychometric qualities of the MAIA-2 were investigated: factor structure, internal consistency, and the moderating role of gender. Results Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed that an 8-factor model of MAIA-2-N provided the best fit. Also, a bifactor model revealed a proper fit. Good internal consistency and a moderating role of gender, age, and education on the relationships between certain MAIA-2-N factors and health were observed. Conclusions The MAIA-2-N is an adequate measure of IA in Norwegian-speaking individuals. The factor-structure corresponds with the original MAIA-2 and it shows good internal consistency. Some moderating effects of gender were observed, particularly related to the relationship between IA and physical and psychological state, with the physical state/fitness more closely linked to IA in males and psychological state in females.

The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, version 2 (MAIA-2): psychometric properties in a Dutch non-clinical sample

“…It is important to note that the gender distribution is not equal and thus does not reflect the gender composition of the general Dutch population. Nevertheless, compared with other studies with much smaller male datasets [e.g., 20 , 21 , 23 , 24 ], this study includes a substantial number of male participants ( n = 331), thus contributing valuable comparative data. It is evident that more data from an elderly group and male respondents need to become available in order to speak not of a convenience sample but of a sample representing the Dutch population.…”

“…Presently, the MAIA-2 is the most used self-report questionnaire, covering different components of interoceptive awareness. The MAIA-2 has been translated and psychometrically evaluated in several languages, including French [ 20 ], Turkish [ 21 ], Chinese [ 22 ], Norwegian [ 23 ], Ukrainian [ 24 ], and German [ 5 ]. These studies used non-clinical samples except for the study conducted by Eggart et al [ 5 ], who provided psychometric values for the MAIA-2 in a group of people with Major Depressive Disorder.…”

Validation of the shortened 24-item multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness, version 2 (Brief MAIA-2)

“…MAIA was used in many previous studies related to contemplative main-body interventions 30 , 31 , 36 , mindfulness 39 , 46 , 49 – 51 , 53 , physical activity 8 – 11 , 13 , 14 , 24 , 37 , emotional susceptibility 38 , emotion recognition 54 , emotion regulation 49 , alexithymia 29 , 39 , anxiety 27 , 29 , 41 , 46 , 49 , 50 , depression 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , pain 28 , 32 , 49 , somatization 27 , eating disorders symptoms 27 , 29 , 37 , personality 39 , 41 , 55 , 56 , self-esteem 51 , and well-being 53 . MAIA was validated and adapted to many languages, including Arabic 40 , Chinese 45 , 50 , French 39 , German 33 , 36 , Hungarian 41 , Italian 38 , Japanese 43 , 49 , Korean 44 , Lithuanian 35 Malay 51 , Norwegian 42 , Polish 37 , Portuguese 46 , Spanish 47 , 52 , and Turkish ...…”

“…Although most studies examined only multidimensional factor structure (all scales of the MAIA are intercorrelated), some researchers examined higher-order general factors using CFA 39 , 41 , 42 , including hierarchical second-order (selected items are related to specific scales and all eight scales of MAIA are related to the general factor of interoceptive awareness on a higher level) and bi-factor structures (all items of MAIA are related to the general factor, and selected items to eight scales, independently). Fiskum et al 42 confirmed that both second-order and bi-factor models of MAIA-2 have appropriate structure and good fit indices, so the MAIA-2 total score can be considered in further studies as an indicator of a general factor of interoception. However, resolutions of such an approach did not always cover all items and scales of MAIA 39 , 41 , and were far from theoretical assumptions 24 – 26 .…”

“…Men scored significantly higher than women in these dimensions 40 . Fiskum et al 42 performed MANCOVA, showing that women scored significantly higher than men in the total MAIA-2 and Trusting scales, but they presented lower scores in Not Worrying than men.…”