Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA)
How well can you sense your body's signals—like tension, breath, or gut feelings? This research-validated assessment measures your interoceptive awareness across 8 key dimensions, helping you understand how you notice and respond to internal bodily sensations.
Time:~5 minutes
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Whether you're leading teams, solving complex problems, or navigating burnout, your ability to stay present, regulate stress, and read your body's signals affects everything from focus to decision-making. This science-backed assessment helps you identify which body awareness skills are strong or need development.
What This Assessment Measures
**Noticing** – Awareness of physical sensations
**Not-Distracting** – Tendency not to ignore or suppress discomfort
**Not-Worrying** – Ability to sense discomfort without over-worrying
**Attention Regulation** – Staying focused on bodily sensations
**Emotional Awareness** – Noticing how emotions show up physically
**Self-Regulation** – Using body awareness to calm distress
**Body Listening** – Seeking information from the body
**Trusting** – Feeling safe in one's body
Why This Matters
In professional settings, strong interoceptive awareness translates to staying grounded under pressure, recognizing signs of overload before burnout hits, and making more aligned decisions by tuning into 'gut feelings.'
Research Background
This 32-item assessment was developed and validated by Mehling et al. (2012) in PLoS ONE. Unlike other measures, MAIA distinguishes helpful body awareness from anxious hyper-vigilance.
Learn more about the research behind MAIAResearch Background
Scientifically Validated Interoceptive Awareness Assessment
The MAIA is the first validated tool to measure different dimensions of interoceptive awareness—how we sense and respond to internal bodily signals. Developed through rigorous research with 325 participants, it distinguishes between helpful body awareness and anxious hypervigilance.
What This Measures
Noticing
Awareness of uncomfortable, comfortable, and neutral body sensations
Not-Distracting
Tendency not to ignore or distract from pain or discomfort
Not-Worrying
Ability to experience discomfort without emotional distress or worry
Attention Regulation
Ability to sustain and control attention to body sensations
Emotional Awareness
Recognition of the connection between body sensations and emotions
Self-Regulation
Using body awareness to regulate psychological distress
Body Listening
Active listening to body signals for insight and information
Trusting
Experience of one's body as safe and trustworthy
When to Use This
Professional Stress Management
When you need to identify early stress signals and develop better coping strategies in high-pressure work environments.
Leadership Development
To enhance emotional intelligence and decision-making by tuning into 'gut feelings' and bodily wisdom.
Burnout Prevention
For recognizing physical warning signs before burnout occurs and building resilience through body awareness.
Mindfulness Training
As a baseline and progress measure in meditation, yoga, or somatic therapy programs.
Why This Assessment Matters
Interoceptive awareness is fundamental to emotional regulation, stress management, and decision-making. Research shows that people with stronger body awareness demonstrate better resilience, more accurate 'gut feelings,' and superior emotional intelligence—all crucial for professional success and personal well-being.
Learn More About the Research
Explore the research methodology, findings, and practical applications of the MAIA assessment in professional contexts.
Deep Dive: The Science Behind Body AwarenessResearch Source
Mehling et al. (2012). The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), PLOS ONE 7(11): e48230.