Tuning in: how interoception shapes body image across early adolescence

Early adolescence is a critical time marked by dynamic changes in physiology, appearance and social environment. These changes are also reflected in how adolescents perceive themselves, including their bodies. The transition through pubertal stages allows us to consider the development of the self from the perspective of how body perception, both from within and from the outside, changes. Although research in adults and post-puberty adolescents suggests that lower interoceptive accuracy is associated with greater body-image concerns, how these factors interact during puberty remains unknown. We tested a sample of 181 girls (ages 10–14 years) spanning across a broad range of pubertal stages, on measures of interoceptive accuracy and behavioural and self-report measures of body image. Lower interoceptive accuracy predicted greater body-image dissatisfaction. Moreover, this relationship was moderated by pubertal stage, showing that the protective effect of higher interoceptive accuracy against body-image dissatisfaction was stronger during more advanced stages of puberty. Our findings show that interoceptive influences extend from the basic multisensory integration to conscious attitudes about our body during a critical developmental period, highlighting the positive role that better interoception can play in mental health. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘From being to identity: analysis and synthesis of the self’.