Examination of the relationship between interoceptive attention processes to different body systems

The aim of this study was to test the validity of the measure (Three-Domain Interoceptive Sensations Questionnaire (THISQ)) interoceptive attention in the Turkish population and to experimentally examine the relationship between this bodily awareness, anxiety, and depression. Our hypothesis is that interoceptive attention will be positively associated with emotion formation and negatively associated with anxiety and depression. In addition, it is predicted that the correct perception of physiological signals, such as heartbeat awareness, will contribute to the more effective regulation of individuals' emotional responses, and interoceptive regulation will alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression. In this context, in the experimental part, the relationship between interoception and psychological processes was evaluated with the experiments on the heartbeat awareness of the participants. The main hypothesis of the experimental part of the study is to explain the relationship between interoceptive attention (the individual's perception of internal bodily signals) and emotional regulation skills, anxiety, and depression. In addition, it is predicted that individuals with high interoceptive attention will perceive physiological signals such as heartbeat more accurately, and this attention will contribute to better formation of their emotional responses. In Study 1, a linguistic adaptation of THISQ was carried out, and validity and reliability analyses were performed with data collected online from 490 participants. Factor analyses showed that the scale was in line with its original structure and was a reliable tool in the Turkish population (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89). In Study 2, an experiment based on heartbeat detection tasks was conducted on 40 participants. Participants assessed whether they were able to perceive heartbeats, and a significant relationship was found between their interoceptive attention levels and emotional awareness skills. The findings revealed that interoceptive attention was negatively associated with anxiety and depression and positively associated with emotional regulation. These results show that THISQ is a valid and reliable tool in Turkish culture and makes an important contribution to understanding the impact of interoceptive attention on emotional processes. Keywords: Interoception, Interoceptive Attention, Metacognitive Confidence