This paper reviews recent research and neuropsychological findings pertaining to the relationship between emotion regulation and interoception. This study adopted a narrative review approach, drawing upon diverse databases such as PudMed, PsycINFO, and SSCI for a comprehensive literature search. The analysis followed a structured sequence, initially exploring the diverse compositions and definitions of emotion and physical sensation. The dimensions and measurements of interception were examined. This paper discusses the potential mechanisms through which interoception influences emotion regulation and examines the appropriateness of using interoceptive skills to treat emotional disorders. Numerous findings substantiate the association between interoception and emotion regulation. In particular, the interoceptive senses perceived at the moment interact with the autonomic nervous system, along with the predictive representations in the central nervous system, influencing emotional states. Clinical research has consistently demonstrated how challenges in recognizing and interpreting interoceptive sensations correlate with difficulties in emotion regulation. These findings suggest a paradigm shift in understanding emotion regulation through the lens of bodily sensations. Nevertheless, further research is needed to consolidate the notion of how interoception is linked to the development and perpetuation of mood disorders, positioning it as a promising target for therapeutic interventions.

This paper reviews recent research and neuropsychological findings pertaining to the relationship between emotion regulation and interoception. This study adopted a narrative review approach, drawing upon diverse databases such as PudMed, PsycINFO, and SSCI for a comprehensive literature search. The analysis followed a structured sequence, initially exploring the diverse compositions and definitions of emotion and physical sensation. The dimensions and measurements of interception were examined. This paper discusses the potential mechanisms through which interoception influences emotion regulation and examines the appropriateness of using interoceptive skills to treat emotional disorders. Numerous findings substantiate the association between interoception and emotion regulation. In particular, the interoceptive senses perceived at the moment interact with the autonomic nervous system, along with the predictive representations in the central nervous system, influencing emotional states. Clinical research has consistently demonstrated how challenges in recognizing and interpreting interoceptive sensations correlate with difficulties in emotion regulation. These findings suggest a paradigm shift in understanding emotion regulation through the lens of bodily sensations. Nevertheless, further research is needed to consolidate the notion of how interoception is linked to the development and perpetuation of mood disorders, positioning it as a promising target for therapeutic interventions.

This paper reviews recent research and neuropsychological findings pertaining to the relationship between emotion regulation and interoception. This study adopted a narrative review approach, drawing upon diverse databases such as PudMed, PsycINFO, and SSCI for a comprehensive literature search. The analysis followed a structured sequence, initially exploring the diverse compositions and definitions of emotion and physical sensation. The dimensions and measurements of interception were examined. This paper discusses the potential mechanisms through which interoception influences emotion regulation and examines the appropriateness of using interoceptive skills to treat emotional disorders. Numerous findings substantiate the association between interoception and emotion regulation. In particular, the interoceptive senses perceived at the moment interact with the autonomic nervous system, along with the predictive representations in the central nervous system, influencing emotional states. Clinical research has consistently demonstrated how challenges in recognizing and interpreting interoceptive sensations correlate with difficulties in emotion regulation. These findings suggest a paradigm shift in understanding emotion regulation through the lens of bodily sensations. Nevertheless, further research is needed to consolidate the notion of how interoception is linked to the development and perpetuation of mood disorders, positioning it as a promising target for therapeutic interventions.

This paper reviews recent research and neuropsychological findings pertaining to the relationship between emotion regulation and interoception. This study adopted a narrative review approach, drawing upon diverse databases such as PudMed, PsycINFO, and SSCI for a comprehensive literature search. The analysis followed a structured sequence, initially exploring the diverse compositions and definitions of emotion and physical sensation. The dimensions and measurements of interception were examined. This paper discusses the potential mechanisms through which interoception influences emotion regulation and examines the appropriateness of using interoceptive skills to treat emotional disorders. Numerous findings substantiate the association between interoception and emotion regulation. In particular, the interoceptive senses perceived at the moment interact with the autonomic nervous system, along with the predictive representations in the central nervous system, influencing emotional states. Clinical research has consistently demonstrated how challenges in recognizing and interpreting interoceptive sensations correlate with difficulties in emotion regulation. These findings suggest a paradigm shift in understanding emotion regulation through the lens of bodily sensations. Nevertheless, further research is needed to consolidate the notion of how interoception is linked to the development and perpetuation of mood disorders, positioning it as a promising target for therapeutic interventions.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to examine the associations among emotion regulation strategies, interoceptive awareness, and psychological distress measures—namely, depression, anxiety, and somatization. Additionally, we aimed to explore the predictive power of various facets of interoceptive awareness in determining the severity of symptoms for each mental disorder. Methods: A cohort of 130 outpatients diagnosed with depression/anxiety disorder were recruited, and 20 subjects exhibiting incomplete responses were excluded from the dataset, leading to a final sample size of 110 outpatients. The clinical symptoms were measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y, and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, and the usage of emotion-regulation strategies and interoceptive awareness was assessed with Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), respectively. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to examine whether emotion-regulation strategies and interoceptive awareness explain the statistically significant variance in each of the symptoms. Results: In the depression model, cognitive reappraisal, accept, and attention regulation showed significant associations, while in the anxiety model, cognitive reappraisal, attention regulation, trust, and notice emerged as significant factors. Lastly, cognitive reappraisal and attention regulation were found to be significant contributors to the final model for somatization. Conclusion The inclusion of MAIA subscales improved the predictive ability of the regression model, highlighting the independent association between interoceptive awareness—particularly attention regulation—and clinical symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, the study underscores the relevance of considering the specific pathological context when implementing interventions, as evidenced by the positive associations between the accept subscale and depression and between the notice subscale and anxiety, respectively.

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to examine whether patients with severe depression and/or anxiety show a difference in the level of body awareness compared with that of healthy controls. Methods: Outpatients (n=100) with a diagnosis of moderate to severe depression and/or anxiety and 42 healthy controls were included in the study. Body awareness was assessed with the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) scale, and other clinical characteristics like anxiety and depression were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Patient Health Questionnaire, respectively. The data were analyzed using ANCOVA, and statistically significant differences between the two groups in both the overall MAIA score and subscale scores were documented. Results: The overall MAIA scores of patients with depression and/or anxiety were significantly lower than that of healthy subjects. Specifically, the differences found in the subscales of trust, acceptance, attention-regulation, and return-to-body were significant, whereas the differences found in the subscales of notice and mind-to-body awareness were not. Conclusion These findings imply that the ability to monitor one’s own bodily sensations and to be aware of their connection with emotional states cannot serve as a marker for psychological well-being. Rather, it may be the aspects of attentional styles and attitudes toward bodily states that play a critical role in mental health. Further analyses examining the relationships between the subscales of body awareness and other psychological variables are deemed necessary.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the Soma experiencing motion (Soma e-motion) program on interoceptive awareness and self-compassion among novices. Methods: A total of 19 adults (clinical group=9, non-clinical group=10) participated in the intervention. Psychological and physical changes after program were qualitatively analyzed using in-depth interviews. The Korean Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (K-MAIA) and the Korean version of the Self-Compassion Scale (K-SCS) were used as quantitative measures. Results: The non-clinical group showed statistically significant differences in the K-MAIA scores (z=-2.805, p<0.01) and K-SCS scores (z=-2.191, p<0.05); however, the clinical group showed no significant differences (K-MAIA: z=-0.652, p>0.05; K-SCS: z=-0.178, p>0.05). According to the in-depth interviews, the results of the qualitative analysis were categorized into five dimensions (psychological and emotional, physical, cognitive, behavioral, and aspects participants found challenging and needs improvement). Conclusion The Soma e-motion program was feasible for improving interoceptive awareness and self-compassion in the non-clinical group. However, further research is needed to investigate the clinical efficacy of the Soma e-motion program for clinical group.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial symptoms and experiences of bereaved parents of victims and parents of survivors of the Sewol Ferry accident five years after the accident. Methods: In-depth interviews of 186 bereaved parents of victims or survivors of the Sewol Ferry accident were conducted. We elicited and categorized meaning units relevant to the psychological, cognitive, and physical traits of the participants from these interviews.Differences in responses between bereaved parents and survivors’ parents and between genders were examined using frequency analyses and χ 2 tests. Results: Data were organized under seven headings: observed attitude and impression of participants, difficulties due to mental health problems, difficulties due to physical pain, difficulties in relationships, negative changes following the incident, positive changes following the incident, and help needed. Within these headings, 27 themes, 60 sub-themes, and 80 meaning units were elicited. Conclusion This study explored the psychiatric, physical, and relational problems reported by bereaved parents and those of survivors as well as major changes in their personal and social lives after the Sewol Ferry accident. Differences in responses according to gender were also identified. The results from this study could inform and facilitate the implementation of intervention measures, such as long-term psychological evaluation, to bereaved parents of victims or survivors of disasters.

Objective: The present study aimed to explore how the patterns of interaction between stress and positive resources differ according to the severity of depression and which resources play the most important role among the various positive resources. Methods: The study included 1,806 people who had visited a health screening center for a mental health check-up to evaluate the levels of perceived stress, positive resources, and depressive symptoms. The participants were divided into a depressive group (n=1,642, mean age 50.60, female 68%) and a non-depressive group (n=164, mean age 48.42, female 66.6%). We conducted hierarchical regression analyses and simple slope analyses to examine the interaction between perceived stress and positive resources. Results: The interaction between perceived stress and optimism was significantly associated with depression in non-depressive groups. In depressive groups, the interactions between five types of positive resources (optimism, purpose in life, self-control, social support and care) and perceived stress were all significantly related to depression. Conclusion Interventions that promote optimism can be helpful for preventing inevitable stress from leading to depression. A deficiency in positive resources may be a factor in aggravating depression in stressful situations for people reporting moderate to severe depressive symptoms.

Somatics refers to body work and movement study that emphasize internal perception and experience. Recently, a new perspective has emerged that views somatics-based techniques as a kind of mindful movement. Somatic techniques as contemplative movement can improve emotional regulation ability through improvement of body awareness or interoception. Based on this background, the present study attempts to develop a somatics based program suitable for a group of clinical patients suffering from emotional dysregulation. This study plans to collect quantitative and qualitative data in order to clarify how interoception and the related emotional regulation ability change after the program. These findings will help to explore whether the somatics technique has potential as an emotion regulation program in the future. In addition, the results are expected to contribute to finding an alternative treatment modality for patients who have not achieved a sufficient effect with conventional psychotherapy.