Development and Validation of the Interoceptive Attribution of Physical Effort Scale (IAPES)

Interoception is the perception of internal bodily signals, including those related to physical effort. Common approaches to measuring interoception include monitoring perceived heartbeats, breathing, gastric activity, and emotions, often through self-reports questionnaires. However, there has been no study of how people use interoception to interpret physical effort experienced during physical activities. Thus, in this study, we aimed to develop and validate a self-report scale to determine an individual’s interoceptive attributions to physical effort. We conducted content, construct, and criterion validity tests on a new measure, the Interoceptive Attribution of Physical Effort Scale (IAPES) and found it to have good content (≥ 0.7), construct (≥ 0.9), and criterion validity (Odds Ratio ≥ 1.3). The IAPES provided relevant information on interoceptive attribution to physical effort, and it can now be used to aid exercise prescription and monitoring.