Relationship between salivary melatonin and interoceptive awareness.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between salivary melatonin levels and interoceptive awareness in humans.

Methods: We recruited 75 participants aged 18-55 years and measured their salivary melatonin concentrations using an enzyme immunoassay and their interoceptive awareness using the scores of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) scale.

Results: Melatonin levels negatively correlated with total interoceptive awareness scores. On the subscales, melatonin levels were negatively correlated with noticing, attention regulation, emotional awareness, self-regulation, body listening, and trust, and were positively correlated with not-distracting; however, there was no correlation with not-worrying.

Conclusion: Individuals with high melatonin levels are unlikely to be aware of their bodily sensations and emotional states or to regulate attention and emotions; however, they appear to have a calm mind.