Convergent validation of the Involuntary Autobiographical Memory Inventory across levels of analysis in a Polish sample

Abstract

Abstract We adapted the Involuntary Autobiographical Memory Inventory (IAMI) into Polish and examined its psychometric properties and convergent validity using a multi-level validation approach. The IAMI assesses individual differences in the frequency of involuntary autobiographical memories and future-oriented thoughts. In Study 1, we conducted confirmatory factor analysis and tested convergent validity using a laboratory vigilance task that objectively captured involuntary past and future thoughts under controlled conditions. In Study 2, we replicated the factorial structure and further examined convergent validity through associations with mind-wandering, emotional distress, and interoceptive sensitivity. Across both studies, confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor structure distinguishing involuntary past and future thoughts, with strong internal consistency. Importantly, IAMI scores predicted both laboratory-elicited involuntary thoughts and theoretically related self-report constructs, providing convergent validity across self-report, behavioural, and bodily-level measures. Together, these findings demonstrate that the Polish adaptation of the IAMI is not only a reliable and valid instrument but also offers novel insights into the cognitive and embodied mechanisms underlying involuntary mental time travel. We discuss the implications of these findings for future research on spontaneous thought processes and their links to cognition and emotion.