Interoceptive Awareness as a Therapeutic Mechanism in Body-Oriented Psychological Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Body-oriented psychological interventions are increasingly recognized for their efficacy in treating a range of mental and physical health conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms of these therapies remain a subject of ongoing investigation. This meta-analysis systematically examines the role of interoceptive awareness—the perception of the body’s internal state—as a potential therapeutic mechanism. We synthesized data from ۲۵ randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between ۲۰۱۰ and ۲۰۲۵, encompassing ۲,۱۹۱ participants. The studies evaluated a variety of body-oriented interventions, including Mindfulness-Based Programs (MBP), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Body Psychotherapy (BPT), for conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic pain. A random-effects model revealed a moderate and significant overall effect of these interventions on improving interoceptive awareness (Hedges’ g = ۰.۴۶, ۹۵% CI [۰.۳۹, ۰.۵۳], p <.۰۰۱). Subgroup analyses indicated that SE (g = ۰.۷۰) and interventions specifically targeting interoception (e.g., ADIE, MABT) yielded the largest effects. Furthermore, improvements in interoceptive awareness were significantly correlated with reductions in psychological distress, particularly for anxiety (g = ۰.۴۹) and PTSD (g = ۰.۸۷). These findings provide robust evidence that enhancing interoceptive awareness is a key mechanism through which body-oriented therapies exert their beneficial effects. The results underscore the importance of incorporating interoceptive training in clinical practice and suggest a promising avenue for future research in psychosomatic medicine.

کلیدواژه ها:

interoceptive awareness ، somatic psychology ، body-oriented psychotherapy ، meta-analysis ، therapeutic mechanism