Gender Differences in the Association Between Anxiety and Interoceptive Insight

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Mental Health

Background:

• Anxiety disorders are prevalent, particularly in women, and linked to interoception (perception of internal bodily states).
• Gender differences in the association between anxiety and interoception are under-researched.
• Interoception involves sensitivity, decision bias, and metacognitive processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gender-specific relationships between state anxiety and interoception in the breathing domain.
• To examine how anxiety relates to interoceptive sensitivity, decision bias, metacognitive bias, and metacognitive insight.
• To identify potential sex differences in these associations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multicentre data from 175 participants (51% women).
• Assessed state anxiety using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
• Measured breathing-related interoception using an inspiratory load task to evaluate sensitivity, decision bias, metacognitive bias, and metacognitive insight.

Main Results:

• State anxiety was negatively associated with metacognitive bias and insight across all participants.
• No significant relationship was found between state anxiety and interoceptive sensitivity or decision bias.
• The negative association between state anxiety and interoceptive insight was significant in women but not in men, indicating a gender-specific effect.

Conclusions:

• State anxiety is associated with reduced metacognitive bias in interoception for everyone.
• Decreased interoceptive insight is specifically linked to anxiety in women.
• Interventions targeting interoceptive metacognitive bias may benefit all anxiety patients, while insight-focused interventions could be particularly valuable for women with anxiety.