Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is Related to Poor Self-Reported Interoceptive Accuracy

Research indicates that both adverse childhood events (ACEs) and poor interoception, the ability to recognize visceral sensations, are independently associated with anxiety and depression. Little is known, however, about the relationship between ACEs and interoception. The current study aimed to characterize the relationship between ACEs and interoception in two independent studies. In both studies (Study 1: N = 160, 70% female, M age = 20.28; Study 2: N = 814, 52% female, M age = 38.00) ACEs were self-reported using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Self-reported confidence in interoceptive accuracy, the precision with which a person can monitor visceral signals, and interoceptive attention, the dispositional tendency to attend to bodily signals were measured using the Interoceptive Accuracy Scale and Body Perception Questionnaire, respectively. In both studies, significant relationships emerged between high levels of emotional (study 1: β = -.300, p < .001; study 2: β = -.124, p < .001) and physical neglect (study 1: β = -.177, p = .039; study 2: β = -.136, p < .001) and low confidence in interoceptive accuracy, even after adjustment for sociodemographic factors and current stress levels. While in study 1 no relationships emerged between ACEs and interoceptive attention, in study 2 emotional neglect (β = -.101, p = .006) was associated with less interoceptive attention. Both studies demonstrated a relationship between some ACEs and low confidence in interoceptive accuracy and provide initial evidence that poor self-reported interoceptive accuracy may be a possible mechanism linking childhood trauma with poor mental health.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-025-00721-1.