Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2

Interoceptive awareness is a multidimensional concept encompassing appraisals, beliefs, attention, and behavioral responses, playing a vital role in emotional regulation, decision-making, and self-awareness. As abnormal self-reported interoception is associated with mental health problems, the 37-item Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness version 2 (MAIA-2) is widely used in clinical and non-clinical settings. However, its psychometric properties in different linguistic and cultural contexts need to be examined to ensure its validity and reliability. This study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of a Persian translation of the MAIA-2.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 475 residents in Tehran (409 women and 66 men) who completed the translated MAIA-2 in 2021. Psychometric properties were assessed using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Additionally, validated measures of Emotion Regulation and Mindful Attention Awareness were used to evaluate divergent and convergent validity.

The eight-factor model of MAIA-2 has been confirmed with appropriate fit indices (RMSEA = 0.055 [95% CI 0.052–0.058]; SRMR = 0.064), and demonstrated improved internal consistency reliability. The MAIA-2 also exhibited significant divergent validity (-0.20 to -0.59) with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and significant convergent validity (0.18 to 0.38) with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, both at the 0.01 significance level. Additionally, the Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the factors were within the satisfactory range, ranging from 0.58 to 0.95.

The findings concluded that the Persian version of MAIA-2 is a valuable tool for assessing interoceptive awareness in Persian-speaking populations.