Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness

Understand how you sense and respond to signals from your body.

How aware are you of your body sensations?

The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2) is a validated self-report measure originally developed by Wolf E. Mehling, Cynthia Price, Jennifer J. Daubenmier, Mike Acree, Elizabeth Bartmess, and Anita Stewart at the University of California, San Francisco. The MAIA-2 was refined by Wolf E. Mehling, Michael Acree, Anita Stewart, Jonathan Silas, and Alexander Jones to assess interoceptive awareness—the ability to sense, interpret, and respond to signals from within the body. It measures eight dimensions: Noticing, Not-Distracting, Not-Worrying, Attention Regulation, Emotional Awareness, Self-Regulation, Body Listening, and Trusting.

Note: This survey is not a diagnostic tool. It is part of a research study exploring the relationship between bodily awareness and imagery experiences, including aphantasia.

Instructions: Below you will find a list of statements. Please indicate how often each statement applies to you generally in daily life.

1. When I am tense I notice where the tension is located in my body.*

Never

Always

2. I notice when I am uncomfortable in my body.*

Never

Always

3. I notice where in my body I am comfortable.*

Never

Always

4. I notice changes in my breathing, such as whether it slows down or speeds up.*

Never

Always

5. I ignore physical tension or discomfort until they become more severe.*

Never

Always

6. I distract myself from sensations of discomfort.*

Never

Always

7. When I feel pain or discomfort, I try to power through it.*

Never

Always

8. I try to ignore pain.*

Never

Always

9. I push feelings of discomfort away by focusing on something else.*

Never

Always

10. When I feel unpleasant body sensations, I occupy myself with something else so I don't have to feel them.*

Never

Always

11. When I feel physical pain, I become upset.*

Never

Always

12. I start to worry that something is wrong if I feel any discomfort.*

Never

Always

13. I can notice an unpleasant body sensation without worrying about it.*

Never

Always

14. I can stay calm and not worry when I have feelings of discomfort or pain.*

Never

Always

15. When I am in discomfort or pain I can't get it out of my mind.*

Never

Always

16. I can pay attention to my breath without being distracted by things happening around me.*

Never

Always

17. I can maintain awareness of my inner bodily sensations even when there is a lot going on around me.*

Never

Always

18. When I am in conversation with someone, I can pay attention to my posture.*

Never

Always

19. I can return awareness to my body if I am distracted.*

Never

Always

20. I can refocus my attention from thinking to sensing my body.*

Never

Always

21. I can maintain awareness of my whole body even when a part of me is in pain or discomfort.*

Never

Always

22. I am able to consciously focus on my body as a whole.*

Never

Always

23. I notice how my body changes when I am angry.*

Never

Always

24. When something is wrong in my life I can feel it in my body.*

Never

Always

25. I notice that my body feels different after a peaceful experience.*

Never

Always

26. I notice that my breathing becomes free and easy when I feel comfortable.*

Never

Always

27. I notice how my body changes when I feel happy / joyful.*

Never

Always

28. When I feel overwhelmed I can find a calm place inside.*

Never

Always

29. When I bring awareness to my body I feel a sense of calm.*

Never

Always

30. I can use my breath to reduce tension.*

Never

Always

31. When I am caught up in thoughts, I can calm my mind by focusing on my body/breathing.*

Never

Always

32. I listen for information from my body about my emotional state.*

Never

Always

33. When I am upset, I take time to explore how my body feels.*

Never

Always

34. I listen to my body to inform me about what to do.*

Never

Always

35. I am at home in my body.*

Never

Always

36. I feel my body is a safe place.*

Never

Always

37. I trust my body sensations.*

Never

Always

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