A psychometric evaluation of the highly sensitive person scale: the components of sensory-processing sensitivity

The medical clown is a healthcare practitioner whose character is strictly associated with the performer’s own personality. In this study, the relationships between level of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), caregiving strategies and humour in Italian and Israeli clowns were compared. Participants were 159 medical clowns (97 Italian and 62 Israeli), ranging from 22 to 74 years of age, who completed a demographic questionnaire, the self-reported Highly Sensitive Person Scale, the Caregiving Strategies Scale and the BenCor. Results showed that higher SPS was related to higher hyperactivation and deactivation, and that hyperactivation was related to lower benevolent humour and greater corrective humour. Hyperactivation negatively predicts benevolent humour but positively predicts corrective humour, beyond the effect of SPS. Deactivation had no relationship to either benevolent or corrective humour. The results are also discussed in reference to differences between the two groups and to previous studies conducted with general populations.

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Individual Differences and Susceptibility to Burnout Syndrome: Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Its Relation to Exhaustion and Disengagement

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.751350 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Krystyna Golonka ◽

Bożena Gulla

Keyword(s):

Work Environment ◽

Sensory Processing ◽

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Protective Factor ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Well Being ◽

Burnout Syndrome ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Sensory Processing Sensitivity ◽

Sensitive Person

The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and occupational burnout. This analysis makes it possible to explore the problem of sensitivity as a predictor of burnout syndrome and to discuss adequate coping strategies in the work environment to improve employee well-being. The sample consists of 516 employees (236 women; Mage = 28.97, SD = 6.62 years). The Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS; 27 items) was used to measure sensory processing sensitivity; the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI; 16 items) was used to measure exhaustion and disengagement from work. The analysis of sensitivity is based on the ‘DOES’ model of a highly sensitive person, which includes depth of processing (D), overstimulation (O), emotional reactivity and empathy (E), and sensing the subtle (S). Burnout due to exhaustion and disengagement is analyzed. The factor analysis of the HSPS confirms its three-factor structure. The results indicate significant relationships between sensory processing sensitivity and burnout symptoms. However, the influence of specific aspects of sensitivity on the burnout problem varies: the results indicate that higher emotional reactivity is linked to worse burnout symptoms, but sensing the subtle shows the opposite effect and may be a protective factor against exhaustion. Significant gender differences were observed [F(511,1) = 136.63, p < 0.001; η2 = 0.21]; women revealed a significantly higher level of general sensitivity (Mwomen = 4.66, SD = 0.62) as compared to men (Mmen = 4.01; SD = 0.64). Awareness of one’s high sensory-processing sensitivity and its potential outcomes in the work environment may be essential in order to implement appropriate regulatory strategies. Proactive strategies aimed at reducing prolonged emotional overload may be critical for highly sensitive employees. Recognizing high sensitivity may reduce burnout symptoms and improve well-being at work.

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40.5 THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE BRAIN: THE NEURAL CORRELATES OF SENSORY PROCESSING SENSITIVITY

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.jaac.2016.07.357 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 55 (10) ◽

pp. S322 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bianca Acevedo

Keyword(s):

Sensory Processing ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Sensory Processing Sensitivity

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Relationship Between the Temperament Trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Emotional Reactivity

Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal ◽

10.2224/sbp.2016.44.2.185 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 185-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Jadzia Jagiellowicz ◽

Arthur Aron ◽

Elaine N. Aron

Keyword(s):

Sensory Processing ◽

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Emotional Stimuli ◽

High Quality ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Sensory Processing Sensitivity ◽

Quality Of Parenting ◽

First Time ◽

Temperament Trait

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a temperament trait found in around 20% of humans, which has been found to enhance responsiveness to diverse stimuli. In this study, we investigated for the first time the extent to which SPS, and its interaction with quality of parenting, predicts positive and negative experiences in response to emotional stimuli. Participants (N = 96) from the upper and lower quartiles on the standard SPS measure (the Highly Sensitive Person Scale) rated the valence and their arousal level when viewing emotionally evocative and neutral pictures selected from the International Affective Picture System. High (vs. low) SPS individuals rated pictures eliciting emotion, and especially positive ones, as significantly more valenced, and tended to respond faster to the positive pictures; also, high, vs. low, SPS individuals who had reported having high-quality parenting reported greater arousal in response to positive pictures. Overall, results suggest that high SPS individuals respond more strongly to emotional stimuli—especially positive—without being more aroused unless they had especially high-quality parenting.

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Higher sensory processing sensitivity, introversion and ectomorphism: New biomarkers for human creativity in developing rural areas

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice ◽

10.4103/0976-3147.98314 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 03 (02) ◽

pp. 159-162 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Carlos V Rizzo-Sierra ◽

Martha E Leon-S ◽

Fidias E Leon-Sarmiento

Keyword(s):

Sensory Processing ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Sensory Information ◽

Neural Connectivity ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Human Creativity ◽

Sensory Processing Sensitivity ◽

New Biomarkers

ABSTRACTThe highly sensitive trait present in animals, has also been proposed as a human neurobiological trait. People having such trait can process larger amounts of sensory information than usual, making it an excellent attribute that allows to pick up subtle environmental details and cues. Furthermore, this trait correlates to some sort of giftedness such as higher perception, inventiveness, imagination and creativity. We present evidences that support the existance of key neural connectivity between the mentioned trait, higher sensory processing sensitivity, introversion, ectomorphism and creativity. The neurobiological and behavioral implications that these biomarkers have in people living in developing rural areas are discussed as well.

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Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire: A Psychometric Evaluation and Associations with Experiencing the COVID-19 Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182412962 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 12962

Author(s):

Klara Malinakova ◽

Lukas Novak ◽

Radek Trnka ◽

Peter Tavel

Keyword(s):

Sensory Processing ◽

Factor Model ◽

Human Life ◽

Strong Association ◽

Rapid Assessment ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Psychometric Evaluation ◽

Excellent Internal Consistency ◽

Males And Females ◽

Sensory Processing Sensitivity

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a common human neurobiological trait that is related to many areas of human life. This trait has recently received increased public interest. However, solid scientific research on SPS is lagging behind. Progress in this area is also hindered by a lack of comprehensive research tools suitable for a rapid assessment of SPS. Thus, the aim of this study was to offer a newly developed tool, the Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire (SPSQ), and to assess its psychometric properties and associations with emotional and relational variables measured during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We found the tool to have good psychometric characteristics: high temporal stability (r = 0.95) and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.92; McDonald’s ω = 0.92). The fit of the SPSQ bi-factor model was satisfactory: χ2 (88.0) = 506.141; p < 0.001; CFI = 0.993; TLI = 0.990; RMSEA = 0.070; SRMR = 0.039. Testing of configural, metric, scalar and strict invariance suggested that the SPSQ assesses SPS equivalently between males and females. The scale’s validity was supported via a strong association with an existing SPS measure. Further, we observed higher total SPSQ scores among women, students and religious respondents, and we found that more sensitive respondents reported higher feelings of anxiety and more deterioration in relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study also identifies people with this trait as being potentially more vulnerable during periods of an increased presence of global stressors.

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How do highly sensitive persons parent their adolescent children? The role of sensory processing sensitivity in parenting practices

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/0265407520911101 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 1825-1842

Author(s):

Alon Goldberg ◽

Miri Scharf

Keyword(s):

Sensory Processing ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Positive Parenting ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Self Report ◽

Harsh Parenting ◽

Parenting Interventions ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Sensory Processing Sensitivity

This research examines whether sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) in parents is associated with their parenting practices toward their adolescent children and whether attachment insecurity mediates the associations between SPS and parenting practices. One hundred twenty-one parent–adolescent dyads completed self-report questionnaires assessing parents’ SPS, parents’ adult attachment, and parenting practices. Results showed that SPS was positively associated with inconsistency, psychological intrusiveness, and attachment anxiety. Further, attachment anxiety mediated the association between parents’ SPS and harsh parenting and partially mediated the association between parents’ SPS and parental psychological intrusiveness. There is very little research on how highly sensitive individuals parent their children in general and none regarding the parenting of high-SPS individuals during challenging developmental periods such as their children’s adolescence. Findings suggest that parents high in SPS may experience this period as especially stressful and high SPS might contribute to the use of negative parenting. Interventions focused on regulating high-SPS parents’ stress and on facilitating parents in practicing separating their own and their children’s emotions could promote their use of more positive parenting practices.

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Localizing sensory processing sensitivity and its subdomains within its relevant trait space: a data-driven approach

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-99686-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Taraneh Attary ◽

Ali Ghazizadeh

Keyword(s):

Big Five ◽

Sensory Processing ◽

Data Driven ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Sensory Threshold ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Data Driven Approach ◽

Sensory Processing Sensitivity ◽

Using Data ◽

Positive Traits

AbstractSensitivity arising from enhanced processing of external and internal stimuli or sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is known to be present in a sizable portion of the population. Yet a clear localization of SPS and its subdomains with respect to other relevant traits is currently lacking. Here, we used a data-driven approach including hierarchical clustering, t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) and graph learning to portrait SPS as measured by Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) in relation to the Big-Five Inventory (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) as well as to shyness, alexithymia, autism quotient, anxiety, and depression (11 total traits) using data from more than 800 participants. Analysis revealed SPS subdomains to be divided between two trait clusters with questions related to aesthetic sensitivity (AES) falling within a cluster of mainly positive traits and neighbored by openness while questions addressing ease of excitation (EOE) and low sensory threshold (LST) to be mostly contained within a cluster of negative traits and neighbored by neuroticism. A similar spread across clusters was seen for questions addressing autism consistent with it being a spectrum disorder, in contrast, alexithymia subdomains were closely fit within the negative cluster. Together, our results support the view of SPS as a distinct yet non-unitary trait and provide insights for further refinements of the current SPS concept and scales.

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