Sensory processing sensitivity and its association with seasonal affective disorder

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Spanish sensory processing sensitivity questionnaire (S-SPSQ)

Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a temperament trait rooted in biology, and is distinguished by heightened awareness, emotional responsiveness, and sensitivity to environmental stimuli. In this study, we aimed to enable the assessment of SPS within Spanish-speaking populations. To achieve this, we translated, adapted, and validated the Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire (SPSQ), which offers a comprehensive evaluation of SPS, encompassing both positive and negative aspects of the trait. Participants were 1,004 (844 females, mean age 37) mainly from Chile (964), and 40 were from other Spanish-speaking regions. Confirmatory factor analysis, utilizing the diagonally weighted least squares method, was applied to validate the internal structure of the Spanish version of the SPSQ (S-SPSQ). Fit indices such as GFI, CFI, TLI, RMSEA, and SRMR were scrutinized. Reliability assessment utilized Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's Omega. Three models were examined: Model I (six factors) displayed robustness, Model II (six factors plus a general factor) did not show substantive improvement, and Model III (Higher Order and Bifactor) excelled in fit while balancing complexity and representation, thus validating the findings of the original SPSQ and indicating similar reliability coefficients. The study offers a balanced perspective on SPS and contributes to cross-cultural validation of an SPS instrument which may facilitate research and guide personalized therapeutic interventions, thus enhancing outcomes for highly sensitive persons.

Personality Traits and Coping Strategies as Psychological Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Highly Sensitive Persons

Sensory-Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is the reactivity to different stimuli that occurs in some people with sufficient intensity to cause interference in daily life. There are not many previous studies that determine the influence of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies on health-related quality of life through indicators of mental (anxiety and depression) and physical (vitality) health and functioning in their lives in different contexts (emotional role functioning). In this sense, contexts that promote the use of successful stress-coping strategies are related to the presence of positive mental health outcomes. This study focuses on the analysis of indicators of health-related quality of life in people with SPS in relation to certain personality traits and coping strategies. Participants (N = 10,525) completed HSPS-S, NEO-FFI, CSI, and SF-36. Differences were observed between men and women. Differences indicated that women had higher SPS scores compared to men and poorer health-related quality of life. The results showed significant relationships with the three indicators of health-related quality of life. Finally, it is confirmed that neuroticism and the use of maladaptive coping strategies act as risk factors, whereas extraversion, conscientiousness, and adaptive coping strategies act as protective factors. These findings highlight the need to develop prevention programs for highly sensitive persons.

Relationship between Sensitivity Tendency and Psychological Stress Reactivity in Healthy Students

This study examined the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and psychological stress reactivity in 69 healthy Japanese university students. The Japanese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale and the Japanese version of the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile were used for subjective assessment. The Galvanic skin response was measured as an objective measure of stress responses while the participants were completing the Stroop task. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient, and the Mann−Whitney U test were conducted for data analysis. The results demonstrated that there was no significant correlation between the Japanese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale and Galvanic skin response. However, there was a marginal trend toward significance between low registration in the Japanese version of the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and Galvanic skin response (rs = 0.231, p < 0.10; rs = 0.219, p < 0.10), suggesting that self-rated sensitivity was not necessarily associated with objective measures. These results indicate that sensory processing sensitivity analyses require the consideration of the traits and characteristics of the participants and multifaceted evaluations using a sensitivity assessment scale other than the Japanese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale.

Sensory Stimulation Via the Visual, Auditory, Olfactory and Gustatory Systems Can Modulate Mood and Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, predicted to be the leading cause of disease burden by the next decade. There is great deal of emphasis on the central origin and potential therapeutics of depression whereby the symptomatology of depression has been interpreted and treated as brain generated dysfunctions filtering down to the periphery. This top-down approach has found strong support from clinical work and basic neuroscientific research. Nevertheless, despite great advances in our knowledge of the etiology and therapeutics of depression, success in treatment is still by no means assured.. As a consequence, a wide net has been cast by both clinicians and researchers in search of more efficient therapies for mood disorders. As a complementary view, the present integrative review advocates approaching mood and depression from the opposite perspective: a bottom-up view that starts from the periphery. Specifically, evidence is provided to show that sensory stimulation via the visual, auditory, olfactory and gustatory systems can modulate depression. The review shows how -depending on several parameters- unisensory stimulation via these modalities can ameliorate or aggravate depressive symptoms. Moreover, the review emphasizes the bidirectional relationship between sensory stimulation and depression. Just as peripheral stimulation can modulate depression, depression in turn affects-and in most cases impairs-sensory reception. Furthermore, the review suggests that combined use of multisensory stimulation may have synergistic ameliorative effects on depressive symptoms over and above what has so far been documented for unisensory stimulation.

Serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) variation and sensory processing sensitivity-Comparison with other anxiety-related temperamental dimensions

Background

The short (s) allele of the 5‐HTTLPR polymorphism in the promoter region of the human serotonin transporter (5‐HTT) gene SLC6A4 has previously been associated with anxiety‐related personality dimensions. However, this relationship has not been confirmed in all studies and may be modified by environmental circumstances and/or psychiatric illness. This study examined whether the temperamental trait sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), characterized by increased responsivity to environmental stimuli, is related to 5‐HTTLPR/rs25531 genotype.

Methods

5‐HTTLPR and rs25531 genotypes, level of SPS, self‐reported Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO‐PI‐R) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) personality profiles, and symptoms of psychological distress (SCL‐90R Global Severity Index) were determined for 405 healthy volunteers.

Results

Sensory processing sensitivity was highly correlated with the anxiety‐related dimensions of the NEO‐PI‐R and the TCI models of personality, Neuroticism, and Harm Avoidance, respectively. However, the level of SPS was not associated with the combined 5‐HTTLPR and rs25531 s′/s′ genotype. Neuroticism and Harm Avoidance were also not associated with 5‐HTTLPR/rs25531 s′/s′ genotype. Correcting for symptoms of psychological distress had no effect on the relationships between personality and genotype.

Conclusion

The level of SPS was not associated with serotonin transporter gene variation. Further, combined 5‐HTTLPR and rs25531 genotype was not associated with other anxiety‐related dimensions.