Psychological Well-Being, Body Image, and Interoception – Differences Between Women With Rheumatologic Diseases and Healthy Women

Natalia Krymow

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Doctoral School of Social Sciences Academia Rerum Socialium
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3599-2351

Jakub Rumiński

Third-Year Student of Cognitive Science, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Science
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0737-7962

Monika Lewandowska

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical and Neuropsychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7354-3693

Rafał Milner

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical and Neuropsychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3670-8265


Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore differences between women with rheumatologic diseases (RD) and healthy women (HC) in terms of psychological functioning, body image, and interoception.

Method: The study included 86 women (43 RD, 43 HC). Psychological health was assessed using the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) (Czachowski et al., 2012). Body image satisfaction was measured with the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA) (Słowińska, 2019). Subjective aspects of interoceptive awareness were evaluated using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) (Brytek-Matera & Kozieł, 2015).

Results: Compared to the HC, women with RD showed higher levels of depression, distress, anxiety, and somatization as measured by the 4DSQ. Moreover, in the BESAA, the RD group reported greater dissatisfaction with their body appearance and body weight than the HC group. Regarding subjective interoception, women with RD scored higher on the MAIA subscales Noticing and Not-Worrying but lower on the Trusting subscale compared to healthy participants.

Conclusions: The findings provide significant evidence of reduced psychological well-being among women with rheumatologic diseases. The results highlight the need for interventions aimed at improving psychological well-being and supporting the integration of bodily experiences and interoceptive processes in this population.


Keywords:

rheumatologic diseases, psychological well-being, body image, interoception


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Published
2025-12-17

Cited by

Krymow, N., Rumiński, J., Lewandowska, M., & Milner, R. (2025). Psychological Well-Being, Body Image, and Interoception – Differences Between Women With Rheumatologic Diseases and Healthy Women. The Review of Psychology, 68(3), 117–137. https://doi.org/10.31648/przegldpsychologiczny.12559

Natalia Krymow 
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Doctoral School of Social Sciences Academia Rerum Socialium
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3599-2351
Jakub Rumiński 
Third-Year Student of Cognitive Science, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Science
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0737-7962
Monika Lewandowska 
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical and Neuropsychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7354-3693
Rafał Milner 
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical and Neuropsychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3670-8265