French Translation and Validation of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-Fr)

Public Significance Statement The way we perceive and identify our internal body sensations is known as our interoceptive awareness and it can have a great impact on our physical and psychological health. This study examined the properties of a French translation of a popular questionnaire assessing interoceptive awareness. It concluded that this French version can be safely used by clinicians and researchers in French-speaking populations. Interoceptive awareness, which refers to the features of interoception that are accessible to consciousness, has been consistently associated with physical and psychological health. To date, the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) is the most comprehensive self-report measure of interoceptive awareness. As such, it has been translated into many languages and validated in many countries. Aim: The aim of the present study was to validate a French version of the MAIA (MAIA-Fr), so it can be used in clinical and research settings with French-speaking populations. Method: The psychometric properties of the MAIA-Fr were analyzed based on the responses of 345 French adult participants. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Internal consistency, temporal stability, and construct validity of the MAIA-Fr were examined. Result: As for the original MAIA, the factor analyses supported an eight-factor structure of the MAIA-Fr. The results indicated a good construct validity of the questionnaire and showed appropriate-to-good internal consistency and temporal stability for most MAIA-Fr scales. In line with previous validation studies, questionable behaviors were found for the Not distracting and Not worrying scales. Conclusion: The MAIA-Fr was deemed appropriate to assess interoceptive awareness in French-speaking populations.