Holding the body in mind: Interoceptive awareness, dispositional mindfulness and psychological well-being
Open accessAbstract
Objective Recent dialogue between Western and Eastern traditions has stimulated novel explorations of the relationship between mind and body. Many of these cross-cultural, mind-body dialogues have proven productive in identifying more adaptive forms of embodiment. Prior studies suggest that dispositional mindfulness (DM) and interoceptive awareness (IA) are associated but distinct, key constructs in mind-body approaches that are conceptualized in a variety of ways with imprecisely characterized relationship. The current study is a secondary data analysis that explores the relationship between scores on measures of IA and DM, examining multivariate networks of association between these constructs and addressing their relationship with scores on a measure of psychological well-being.Method Participants (n=478) were American adults completing measures of interoceptive awareness (as measured by the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness; MAIA), dispositional mindfulness (as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire; FFMQ), and psychological well-being (as measure by the Scales of Psychological Well-Being; SPWB) online. The average participant age was 36.44 (S.D.=12.17), and 57% were female.Results Correlational results from his study indicated that the IA scales and DM facets form two associative clusters. Canonical correlation analysis supported this finding, revealing that two primary networks of association exist between IA and DM, a Regulatory Awareness cluster and an Acceptance in Action cluster. Finally, hierarchical linear regression demonstrated that the self-report measures of IA and DM shared considerable variance, but also explained unique portions of the variance in psychological well-being.Conclusion This psychometric investigation demonstrates that IA and DM are tightly interwoven, partly overlapping constructs. Indeed, greater DM is strongly linked with greater IA. Additionally, both IA and DM appear to be independently associated with enhanced psychological well-being. Future research should investigate how mindfulness practices moderate IA for therapeutic implications.
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High attention to body sensations could cause hypervigilance, and negative interpretation of interoceptive signals could foster catastrophizing.
“For instance, whereas high attention to body sensations could cause hypervigilance, negative interpretation of interoceptive signals could foster catastrophizing [34].”
From Interoceptive Ability and Emotion Regulation in Mind–Body Interventions: An Integrative Review (2024) · cites this paper as [34]
The Interoceptive Awareness and Psychological Well-Being section describes maladaptive body awareness as involving hypervigilance and catastrophizing. The Discussion’s Acceptance in Action Cluster says judging a bodily sensation as bad is likely to provoke concern. The paper does not establish that high attention itself causes hypervigilance or that negative interpretation specifically leads to catastrophizing; it emphasizes that the style of attention matters. Page numbers were not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIf one can bring a mindful attentional style and dampen behavioral reactivity to discomforting or anxiety provoking sensations, then a refined awareness of those sensations and emotions may reduce hyperarousal.
“Hanley et al. (2017) point out, if one can bring a mindful attentional style and dampen behavioral reactivity to the discomforting or anxiety provoking sensations, then a refined awareness of those sensations and emotions may reduce hyperarousal.”
From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Hanley et al., 2017
The Discussion’s “Regulatory Awareness Cluster” describes mindful observation and non-reactivity to uncomfortable bodily sensations as calming. “Bivariate Relationships between Interoceptive Awareness and Dispositional Mindfulness” also links non-reactivity with regulating emotional distress. Neither passage specifically establishes a reduction in hyperarousal; page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIf the body is experienced as safe and comforting, sustained attention on body is easier and intuitive.
“If the body is experienced as safe and comforting, sustained attention on body was found to be easier and intuitive.”
From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Hanley et al., 2017
The Discussion’s Bivariate Relationships section links non-reactivity with both sustained attention to bodily sensations and experiencing the body as safe and trustworthy. The Regulatory Awareness Cluster section describes sustained attention as supported by non-reactivity and associated with calming regulation. Neither section establishes that feeling safe and comforted by the body makes sustained attention easier or intuitive; the claim turns related associations into a directional finding. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThese results are consistent with the results of several studies and are significant because mindfulness-based education programs enable self-regulation by focusing on one's physical condition through interoceptive awareness.
“These results are consistent with the results of several studies [19, 33] and are significant because mindfulness-based education programs enable self-regulation by focusing on one's physical condition through interoceptive awareness.”
From Effects of a Mindfulness-based Education Program on Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, Interoceptive Awareness, and University-life Adjustment for Korean University Freshmen (2024) · cites this paper as [19]
The Interoceptive Awareness and Dispositional Mindfulness section reports that mindfulness-based interventions targeting body awareness increased self-reported interoceptive awareness, including its Self-Regulation scale. The Discussion’s Regulatory Awareness Cluster links attention to bodily sensations with regulation. The paper does not establish that mindfulness-based education programs generally enable self-regulation through this mechanism; its own findings are associations, and the intervention findings are reported from other studies. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredInteroceptive awareness (IA) is widely used to point to the conscious and evaluative interpretation of internal body signals in the context of contemplative practices.
“Yet, IA is widely used to point to the conscious and evaluative interpretation of internal body signals in the context of contemplative practices [34].”
From Interoceptive Ability and Emotion Regulation in Mind–Body Interventions: An Integrative Review (2024) · cites this paper as [34]
Both mindfulness and interoceptive awareness are tightly interwoven yet distinct constructs and appear to be independently associated with enhanced psychological well-being.
“Both mindfulness and IA are tightly interwoven yet distinct constructs and appear to be independently associated with enhanced psychological well-being (Hanley et al., 2017).”
From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Hanley et al., 2017
Maladaptive forms of interoceptive awareness are characterized by hypervigilance and catastrophizing, while healthy forms are characterized by attention regulation and acceptance.
“Maladaptive forms of IA seem to be characterized by hypervigilance and catastrophizing, while healthy forms are characterized by attention regulation and acceptance (Hanley et al., 2017).”
From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Hanley et al., 2017
Dispositional mindfulness may promote more adaptive interoceptive attentional styles and enhance or illuminate discriminative capacities related to various bodily sensations.
“Dispositional mindfulness may promote more adaptive interoceptive attentional styles and enhance or illuminate discriminative capacities related to various bodily sensations (Mehling et al., 2009; Hanley et al., 2017).”
From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Hanley et al., 2017
Non-reactive does not mean non-responsive; it indicates a selective attention with less affective interference.
“Hanley et al. (2017) argue, non-reactive does not mean non-responsive, rather it indicates a selective attention with less affective interference.”
From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Hanley et al., 2017
Using body sensations as a form of self-regulation can be interpreted as emotional anchors providing a sense of calm stability, as trusting and attentional regulation were significant predictors of psychological well-being.
“The authors posit that using body sensations as a form of self-regulation can be interpreted as emotional anchors providing a sense of calm stability as trusting and attentional regulation were significant predictors of psychological well-being.”
From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Hanley et al., 2017
More observant and less reactive individuals may be more likely to attend to body sensations and use those for regulation purposes.
“Hanley et al. (2017) found that more observant and less reactive individuals may be more likely to attend to body sensations and use those for regulation purposes.”
From Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective (2019) · cites this paper as Hanley et al., 2017
Mindfulness and interoceptive awareness are independently connected with enhanced psychological well-being.
“Both mindfulness and interoceptive awareness are closely intertwined yet distinct constructs and appear to be independently connected with enhanced psychological well-being [19].”
The FFMQ does not distinguish between attention directed to exteroception, interoception, or thoughts.
“However, the FFMQ does not distinguish between attention directed to exteroception, interoception, or thoughts (Hanley et al., 2017).”
From The Development of Mindful-Based Dance Movement Therapy Intervention for Chronic Pain: A Pilot Study With Chronic Headache Patients (2021) · cites this paper as Hanley et al., 2017
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References 53 · Cited by 180
- Authors
- Hanley, A. W., Mehling, W. E., & Garland, E. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Utah (US)
- University of California San Francisco Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Garland, Eric L.
- Venue
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-08
- Volume
- 99
- Pages
- 13-20
- ISSN
- 0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5522814
- OpenAlex
- W2616055285
- Cited by
- 180
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 30 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 8.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA042033, R34DA037005)
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (R61AT009296)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Keywords
- interoceptive awareness, trait mindfulness, psychological well-being, mind-body problem, embodiment, regulatory awareness, canonical correlation analysis, construct relationships, mindfulness practice
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Awareness, Female, Humans, Male, Personality, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Report, Mindfulness
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