Self-Reported Interoceptive Accuracy and Attention Do Not Interact to Predict Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Conceptual Replication Across Two Independent Samples

Abstract

Dysfunctional interoception is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for depression and anxiety. However, results remain mixed. Emerging research suggests that particular interoceptive phenotypes may be differentially pathogenic. The current studies aimed to evaluate the degree to which self-reported interoceptive accuracy and attention predict depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as to test the interaction between accuracy and attention. Participants (study 1: N = 170, M = 20.34 years, 69% female, 64% White; study 2: N = 826, M = 38.04 years, 49% female, 58% White) self-reported interoceptive accuracy and attention using the Interoceptive Accuracy Scale and Body Perception Questionnaire, respectively. Participants also reported depression and anxiety symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. In both studies, lower interoceptive accuracy and more interoceptive attention predicted higher depression and anxiety symptoms. In neither study did accuracy interact with attention to predict depression or anxiety symptoms. These results provide evidence that self-reported interoceptive accuracy and attention are independent predictors and do not interact to predict depression and anxiety symptoms.