Associations Between Physical Activity Intensity and Experience, Self-Regulation, and Self-Reported Interoceptive Accuracy and Attention

Interoception may play a key role in healthy lifestyles due to activation of similar brain regions during physical activity (PA) and interoceptive tasks. Previous research concentrated on acute PA and single interoceptive domains (e.g., accuracy or attention). We examined how 1) varying PA intensities, 2) years of PA experience, and 3) self-regulation associate with self-reported interoceptive accuracy and attention.

The Interoceptive Accuracy Scale and Interoceptive Attention Scale were used in 1178 participants (mean age 52.13 ± 16.78, 52% female). The leisure-time activities domain of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire with additional in-depth questions was used to determine PA intensities and experience. Self-regulation was assessed using the Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire.

Log-normalized regression results indicated walking hours per week (M = 3.75 ± 4.17, β = 0.009, p = 0.028) and self-regulation scores (M = 109.36 ± 13.50, β = 0.262, p < 0.001) were significant determinants of self-reported interoceptive accuracy, while years of PA experience (M = 13.39 ± 15.39, β = −0.022, p = 0.005) and self-regulation (M = 109.36 ± 13.50, β = −0.147, p = 0.036) were significant determinants of self-reported interoceptive attention.

Walking hours associated with an increase in interoceptive accuracy, while more years of PA experience decreased interoceptive attention. Better self-regulatory skills increased interoceptive accuracy, and decreased interoceptive attention. Being able to filter relevant interoceptive information may be extremely important in health behavior. We encourage future studies to investigate whether individuals with better self-regulation are therefore more physically active, resulting in increased interoceptive accuracy.

Highlights

• Adaptation to low intensity physical activity reduces sensitivity of bodily signals

• Years of experience in physical activity reduces interoceptive attention

• During vigorous intensity physical activity internal noise clouds interoception

• Better self-regulation and interoceptive accuracy increases bodily trust

• Filtering relevant interoceptive information may be important in health behavior