Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) Questionnaire in Colombian University Students

Abstract

Introduction: The university student population is influenced by multiple factors that affect body awareness. Identifying the body awareness status of students is crucial in creating self-care and emotion management programs to prevent diseases and promote health. The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) questionnaire evaluates interoceptive body awareness in eight dimensions through 32 questions. It is one of the few tools that enable a comprehensive assessment of interoceptive body awareness by involving eight dimensions of analysis. Method: The objective of this study is to present the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) to observe to what extent the hypothesized model fits the population of university students in Colombia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 202 students who met the inclusion criterion of being undergraduate university students. Data were collected in May 2022. Results: A descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic variables of age, gender, city, marital status, discipline, and history of chronic diseases was performed. JASP 0.16.4.0 statistical software was used to conduct confirmatory factor analysis. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed based on the proposed eight-factor model of the original MAIA, giving a significant p-value and 95% confidence interval. However, when performing loading factor analysis, a low p-value was found for item 6 of the Not Distracting factor, and for the entire Not Worrying factor. Discussion: A seven-factor model with modifications is proposed. Conclusions: The results of this study confirmed the validity and reliability of the MAIA in the Colombian university student population.

Interoceptive Awareness Among the General Public in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This study was conducted using MAIA-2 tool to assess the level of interoceptive awareness among the study participants, where MAIA tool holds significant advantages that allow more differentiated assessment of essential psychological aspects of the perception and evaluation of body sensations [ 3 ]. Furthermore, MAIA is considered as one of the few tools that enable a comprehensive assessment of interoceptive body awareness by involving multiple dimensions of analysis [ 34 ]. Indeed, the MAIA comprises eight scales that encompass five key dimensions of body awareness, where these scales provide a comprehensive understanding of different aspects of body awareness through eight subscales including “Noticing”, which involves being aware of body sensations, and “Not-Distracting” and “Not-Worrying”, which relate to emotional reactions and attentional responses to sensations.…”

“…Most of the previous research in Iran [35], Korea [36], Japan [37], Colombia [34], and Turkey [38] examined the MAIA reliability and validation to be used and applied among different study populations. This tool was validated to suit populations with different languages, and also to suit different sociocultural groups, where these validations allow clinicians and researchers to use MAIA among these populations [34][35][36][37][38][39].…”

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

“…In addition, Valenzuela-Moguillansky et al 52 removed two items (4 and 8), while Cali et al 38 excluded five items (4, 7, 10, 12, and 19) from MAIA to improve the 8-factor structure. A 7-factor solution of EFA was found in several studies 46 , 47 , 50 . In the Portuguese sample, Machorrinho et al 46 showed a 7-factor solution in EFA (without Body Listening scale).…”

“…In the Portuguese sample, Machorrinho et al 46 showed a 7-factor solution in EFA (without Body Listening scale). Similarly, Montoya-Hurtado 47 showed a 7-factor structure by removing the Not Worrying scale and item 6 of the MAIA. Teng et al 50 removed six items, and the Noticing scale and good fit indices were achieved by modification (residual correlations between some items).…”

“…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 ...…”