Interoception-Based Interventions for Executive Functioning and Behavioral Outcomes in Children and Young Adults: A...

Background/Objectives: Interoception-based interventions aim to help individuals recognize and respond to internal bodily signals. Their contribution to executive functioning and behavioral regulation remains unclear. This scoping review mapped interventions and reported outcomes in children, adolescents, and young adults. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for English-language studies published between 2015 and 3 May 2026. The review followed Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and PRISMA-ScR reporting recommendations. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted data. Findings were synthesized narratively; no formal critical appraisal was undertaken. Results: Nine studies included participants aged 4-23 years across clinical and nonclinical populations. Approaches included structured interoception curricula, acceptance-based exposure, and programs combining bodily awareness with other therapeutic components. Three studies assessed executive functioning using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Second Edition. Reported gains mainly concerned emotional and behavioral regulation, although improvements in some rated cognitive domains were also described. These findings did not establish improvements on performance-based executive function tasks. Other reported changes concerned anxiety, pain, eating, and social functioning. Findings were not uniformly positive: physiological outcomes were mixed, and one study reported increased worry about bodily sensations. Small samples, limited controlled comparisons, heterogeneous measures, and scarce follow-up data restricted interpretation. Conclusions: The literature reports preliminary improvements in regulation and selected behavioral outcomes but does not establish intervention effectiveness or the specific contribution of interoception. Controlled studies should assess both everyday regulation and executive task performance, isolate intervention components, and examine whether benefits persist.