Work

Attachment representations are associated with interoceptive accuracy but not awareness or sensibility

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Interoception – the perception of internal bodily states such as heartbeat, respiration, and visceral sensations – has been proposed to constitute a fundamental component of self-regulation. Current theorizing proposes that interoception consists of several dimensions: interoceptive accuracy, sensibility, and metacognitive awareness. From an attachment perspective, attachment representations are proposed to shape self-regulation across the lifespan, and are thus expected to influence the processing of bodily signals. We investigated the association between attachment representations and dimensions of interoception in an adult sample (N = 116, Mage = 40.43). Attachment was assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview. A heartbeat counting task with confidence ratings measured interoceptive accuracy, sensibility, and awareness. Analyses revealed that Coherence of Transcript and attachment category positively predicted interoceptive accuracy, but not sensibility or awareness. This pattern suggests that attachment-related processes primarily operate at the level of first-order bodily signal detection rather than metacognitive evaluation or beliefs.

Source: Attachment & Human Development

DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2026.2684967

Authors: Konstantin Steinmassl, Markus Paulus

Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Language: English

Topic: Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft