Sensory Processing Sensitivity in the Context of Environmental Sensitivity: A Critical Review and Development of Research Agenda

Abstract

Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a trait describing inter-individual differences in sensitivity to environments, both positive and negative ones. SPS has attracted growing societal interest. However, (neuro)scientific evidence is lagging behind. We critically discuss how to measure SPS, how it relates to other theories of Environmental Sensitivity and other temperament and personality traits, how SPS interacts with environments to influence (a)typical development, what the underlying aetiologies and mechanisms are, and its relation to mental disorders involving sensory sensitivities. Drawing on the diverse expertise of the authors, we set an agenda for future research to stimulate the field. We conclude that SPS is a heritable, evolutionarily conserved trait, linked to increased risk for psychopathology and stress-related problems in response to negative environments, as well as to greater benefits (e.g., intervention responsivity, positive mood) in positive environments. We need advances in objective assessment of SPS, understanding mechanisms, differentiating it from (seemingly) related mental disorders, to exploit the potential of SPS to improve mental health, preserve human capital, and prevent adverse effects.

Sensory processing sensitivity and culturally modified resilience education: Differential susceptibility in Japanese adolescents

“…Importantly, few empirical studies have been conducted in non-western contexts [ 39 , 43 ]; nonetheless, these results replicated previous findings on the moderation effects of SPS on intervention efficacy reported from different cultural backgrounds [ 36 , 37 ]. This suggests that phenotypic SPS—underpinned by biophysiological substrates [ 32 , 34 , 35 ]—predicts the strength of individual responsiveness to the external information irrespective of the societal differences. In other words, although the mean distribution or population may vary, SPS would manifest common functionality in the context of person and environment interaction even in different cultural contexts.…”

“…Research indicates that SPS lays the foundation for registering and processing external information and is associated with a low threshold for environmental stimuli, strong emotional responsiveness, and deep information processing [ 32 , 33 ]. Individuals with high SPS may also be described as “introverted” in personality and “difficult” in temperament; however, this is conceptually distinct from previously studied personality sub-traits [ 34 , 35 ]. Moreover, this individual sensitivity—or, more specifically, “susceptibility” to environmental stimuli—has been found to moderate outcomes of person x environmental interactions [ 36 , 37 ].…”

Highly Sensitive Person dan Dampaknya terhadap Kesehatan Mental

“…Etiologi dari HSP sendiri adalah genetik dan lingkungan. Sifat HSP dapat diturunkan dan dapat dilihat sejak masih bayi, yaitu ditandai dengan bayi yang sangat reaktif (mudah menangis) dan akan bermanifestasi HSP pada masa remaja (Greven et al, 2018). Terdapat dua penelitian genetik molekular yang mempelajari tentang gen yang berperan terhadap HSP.…”

Bridging the theory to evidence gap: a systematic review and analysis of individual × environment models of child development

“…A-priori item identification is difficult, however, as sensitivity is most easily inferred retrospectively once differential responses to parenting are observed. Nonetheless, researchers have moved towards novel coding of temperament and emotional reactivity (Slagt et al 2019) to identify sensitivity in children that may better identify the proposed variation driving differential responses to parenting (Greven et al 2019). That is, the focus is to identify salient aspects of temperament that capture individual variation in response to parenting.…”

“…Effect: Individual × environment models have been powerful in demonstrating that not all people encounter an environment in the same way (Boyce 2016). In the absence of pure measures of 'sensitivity', 'reactivity', or 'vulnerability' to the environment new bottom-up, insitu measures are emerging that focus on the child in environmental contexts (Greven et al 2019). For example, the Individualized Classroom Assessment Scoring System (inCLASS) is an observational measure of the child within the early education and care environment that aims to understand the child's individual experience of early education (Downer et al 2010).…”