Abstract
The ability to perceive bodily signals of satiation and hunger is key for the self-regulation of food intake. Measuring this competence in large populations and/or in ecologically valid conditions requires valid self-reports. In this research, we tested the construct validity of two self-report measures of the Multidimensional Internally Regulated Eating Scale (MIRES); Sensitivity to physiological signals of satiation (SS) and Sensitivity to physiological signals of hunger (SH). In two pre-registered studies, we examined associations of SS and SH with behavioural indicators of the incidental ability to perceive the onset of satiation and hunger, respectively, but also with a generic self-report of interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness - MAIA). The associations of MAIA with the behavioural indicators were also examined. In a healthy sample of 113 males/females (19–68 years), SS was not associated with satiation threshold as measured with the water load test in the laboratory (Study 1). Likewise, in a healthy sample of 107 females (18–27 years), SH was not associated with hunger threshold as measured with the preload test in a semi-controlled setting (Study 2). Neither MAIA was associated with the thresholds, but was positively associated with SS and SH, providing preliminary evidence for their construct validity.
Highlights
Sensations of satiation and hunger are important determinants of the human eating behaviour
More over, sensations of satiation at T1 and T2 were not significantly corre lated with satiation threshold, while early sensations of satiation correlated positively with signals of satiation (SS) (Table 4)
Hunger threshold was correlated with mea sures of sensation and disposition to eat (DTE) reported at T1, and with early sensations of hunger at T2, while significant correlations were observed be tween signals of hunger (SH) and several measures of late sensations of hunger and satiation (Table 8)
Summary
Sensations of satiation and hunger are important determinants of the human eating behaviour. Some have a stronger tendency than others to rely on bodily signals to determine when and how much to eat (Palascha et al, 2020a) and this depends, among other factors, on one's own ability to perceive such signals. This ability can be seen as a domain-specific type of interoception (i.e., the ability to perceive/sense changes in the internal state of the body (Murphy et al, 2017)) and is considered adaptive since it associates positively with proactive coping, satisfaction with life, self-esteem, and body appreciation, and negatively with eating disorder symptomatology, BMI, and weight cycling (Pala scha et al, 2020a). How ever, construct validity of these subscales has not been fully examined yet
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