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The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2)

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208034
Mehling, W. E., Acree, M., Stewart, A., Silas, J., & Jones, A. (2018). The multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness, version 2 (maia-2). PLOS ONE, 13(12), e0208034. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0208034

Abstract

Interoception, the process by which the nervous system senses, interprets, and integrates signals originating from within the body, has become major research topic for mental health and in particular for mind-body interventions. Interoceptive awareness here is defined as the conscious level of interoception with its multiple dimensions potentially accessible to self-report. The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) is an 8-scale state-trait questionnaire with 32 items to measure multiple dimensions of interoception by self-report and was published in November 2012. Its numerous applications in English and other languages revealed low internal consistency reliability for two of its scales. This study's objective was to improve these scales and the psychometrics of the MAIA by adding three new items to each of the two scales and evaluate these in a new sample. Data were collected within a larger project that took place as part of the Live Science residency programme at the Science Museum London, UK, where visitors to the museum (N = 1,090) completed the MAIA and the six additional items. Based on exploratory factor analysis in one-half of the adult participants and Cronbach alphas, we discarded one and included five of the six additional items into a Version 2 of the MAIA and conducted confirmatory factor analysis in the other half of the participants. The 8-factor model of the resulting 37-item MAIA-2 was confirmed with appropriate fit indices (RMSEA = 0.055 [95% CI 0.052-0.058]; SRMR = 0.064) and improved internal consistency reliability. The MAIA-2 is public domain and available (www.osher.ucsf.edu/maia) for interoception research and the evaluation of clinical mind-body interventions.

Authors

  • Wolf E. Mehling1
  • Michael Acree1
  • Anita Stewart1
  • Jonathan Silas1
  • Alexander Jones1

What This Study Is About

Researchers wanted to create a better way to measure interoception—which is like a "sixth sense" that lets you feel what’s happening inside your body, like your heartbeat, breathing, or hunger. They updated an existing survey to make it more accurate and reliable for scientists to use.

How They Studied It

The researchers set up a booth at the Science Museum in London and asked 1,090 visitors to help out. These participants answered a series of questions about how they perceive their bodily sensations. The team then used complex math to see which questions were the most helpful and which ones were confusing, eventually narrowing it down to a final list of 37 questions called the MAIA-2.

What They Found

The study successfully created a "sharper tool" for science. They found that inner-body awareness isn't just one thing; it has eight different "flavors." These include:
  • Noticing: Just being aware of sensations.
  • Emotional Awareness: Realizing that a tight chest might actually mean you're feeling anxious.
  • Body Trust: Feeling that your body is a safe, helpful place rather than an enemy.
The researchers found that the new version of the test was much more consistent than the old one, especially when measuring how people deal with discomfort without getting distracted or worried.

What This Might Mean

At the Aphantasia Research Network, we are fascinated by this because people with aphantasia—the inability to create mental images in the "mind's eye"—often report different experiences with their other senses, too.
This study provides a reliable "ruler" to measure if people who can't visualize also have a different relationship with their internal body signals. While this specific study didn't look at aphantasia directly, it gives us the perfect tool to do so in the future. One limitation is that the study relied on people's own descriptions of their feelings, which can sometimes be tricky to get exactly right.

One Interesting Detail

The researchers found that "Body Trust" was one of the strongest parts of the survey. It measures how much you feel "at home" in your own skin—a feeling that can vary wildly from person to person!
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always refer to the original paper for accuracy.