The effects of sensory-processing sensitivity and sense of coherence on depressive symptoms in university students

Association between sensory processing sensitivity and quality of life among cancer patients: a mediation and moderation of resilience and social determinants

BACKGROUND

Individuals with sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) tend to be overreactive in response to negative environmental stimuli. More is known about the positive relationship between SPS and quality of life (QoL); nevertheless, less is known regarding the roles of resilience and social determinants in this association. This research aimed to investigate the potential mediation effect of resilience and the moderation effect of social determinants on the relationship between SPS and QoL in a large sample of Chinese cancer patients.

METHODS

We used the most recent datasets from an ongoing project conducted in southwest China. A two-stage random sampling strategy with a probability proportionate to sample size (PPS) design was adopted. The associations between resilience, SPS, and QoL were evaluated using a linear regression model. Path analysis was adopted to examine the mediation of resilience.

RESULTS

Resilience was positively associated with quality of life, while increased sensory processing sensitivity was negatively associated with quality of life. The restricted cubic spline analysis revealed that as resilience increased, the coefficients of quality of life rapidly increased across all domains. Conversely, the coefficients for quality of life gradually decreased with the escalation of sensory processing sensitivity. Resilience was a significant mediator, accounting for 21.88% of the total SPS-QoL association. The mediation effect of resilience varied across ethnicity and sex.

CONCLUSION

Sensory processing sensitivity was significantly associated with quality of life in cancer patients, and promoting resilience could mitigate this negative impact. However, the effect of resilience varies across sex and ethnicity. Therefore, targeted resilience promotion interventions, especially those integrating social characteristics, should be considered for implementation.

Sensory Processing Preferences in an Adult Acute Mental Health Setting: A Retrospective Study

IMPORTANCE

Sensory processing patterns may inform mental health diagnosis-specific treatment plans.

OBJECTIVE

To compare sensory processing preferences of patients admitted with depression and substance use disorder diagnoses.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Acute inpatient mental health center.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients ages 18 to 64 yr with a primary diagnosis of depression or substance use disorder who completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP).

OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Comparison of AASP quadrant scores between subgroups.

RESULTS

Participants (n = 211; M age = 33.8 yr) had a primary diagnosis of depression (n = 121; 57%) or substance use disorder (n = 90; 43%). The depression and substance use disorder groups yielded the following AASP quadrant scores, respectively: low registration, Ms = 38.2 and 34.3 (SDs = 9.4 and 8.0), p = .002; sensation seeking, Ms = 46.8 and 50.6 (SDs = 8.1 and 9.1), p = .002; sensory sensitivity, Ms = 43.4 and 39.8 (SDs = 10.3 and 9.9), p = .013; and sensation avoiding, Ms = 45.6 and 40.1 (SDs = 9.5 and 10.3), p < .001. These differences persisted when scores were normalized against standard population scores. The majority with a primary diagnosis of depression ranked "more/much more than most" for low registration (69; 57.0%), sensory sensitivity (61; 50.4%), and sensation avoiding (79; 65.3%). Those with a primary diagnosis of SUD ranked most frequently as "similar to most" in all quadrants.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Sensory processing preferences differ by primary mental health diagnosis and may provide insight into treatment planning. What This Article Adds: This study identifies differences in sensory processing between patients with a primary diagnosis of depression and those with a primary diagnosis of substance use disorder, suggesting that clinical interventions should account for sensory preferences. Providing appropriate sensory experiences (sensory room, sensory boxes, etc.) may allow patients to function at an optimal level by improving their ability to self-regulate emotions and behaviors.

Relationship between dairy product intake and sense of coherence among middle and high school students in Japan

Despite the growing attention toward the effects of dairy intake on stress and mental health, its relationship to psychological constructs that affect mental health remains poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study (Study 1) and a longitudinal study (Study 2) to examine the association between food intake and stress resilience in Japanese middle and high school students. In Study 1, 865 participants (412 males and 453 females) completed the questionnaires. In Study 2, 109 students (51 males and 58 females) participated each year from 2016 to 2018. Dietary intake was assessed using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Stress resilience was evaluated using a 13-item sense of coherence (SOC) questionnaire. Correlation coefficients were calculated in Study 1 to investigate the relationship between food group intake and SOC. In Study 2, a cross-lagged panel model was tested using structural equation modeling to investigate the effect of dairy product consumption on SOC. Study 1 revealed that only dairy product intake positively correlated with SOC and other food intake indicated no significant relationship. Study 2 indicated that augmented dairy product intake was positively associated with SOC. Among all foods, only dairy products were associated with SOC in adolescents. Although the association was weak, the longitudinal study confirmed that dairy consumption was associated with SOC. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to examine the causal relationship.

Factors Predicting the Quality of Life of University Students in Japan Amidst COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes and club activities in Japanese universities have been canceled; this may increase students' perceived stress and adversely affect their quality of life. This study investigated the factors that influence Japanese university students' quality of life during the pandemic. An online questionnaire collating data related to demographic characteristics, the perceived stress scale (PSS), sense of coherence (SOC), number of social supports, and quality of life (Short Form Health Survey; SF-8) was distributed to university students. Participants were divided into two groups: those who entered university before (seniors) and after (juniors) the onset of the pandemic. Their scores on the two sub-domains (physical and mental) of the SF-8 were evaluated. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the composite mental summary of the SF-8. Regression analysis indicated that the predictor model of the composite mental summary differed between juniors and seniors. Among seniors, the composite mental summary was significantly indicated by the composite physical summary (β = 0.549, p < 0.0001) and PSS (β = 0.422, p < 0.0001). Among juniors, it was significantly indicated by the composite physical summary (β = 0.531, p < 0.0001), PSS (β = 0.390, p < 0.0001), and number of social supports (β = -0.148, p = 0.006). The factors associated with quality of life differed between seniors and juniors. Universities must provide opportunities for students to find more friends, especially for juniors who have limited socialization opportunities owing to the pandemic.

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.

Adaptation of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSP) and Psychometric Properties of Reduced Versions of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (R-HSP Scale) in Spanish Nursing Students

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) can be defined as a personality characteristic that includes the individual characteristics of sensitivity towards endogenous and exogenous stimuli. The differences in environmental sensitivity can play a crucial role in the academic context of health professionals, thus defining it as an area of research that must be addressed. The reduced scale for highly sensitive people (HSP) is a short (16 items) and adapted version of the original scale for highly sensitive people (HSP). This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of reduced versions of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (r-HSP Scale) in Spanish nursing students. Once the questionnaire was translated, its psychometric characteristics were analyzed. The Spanish version of the r-HSP scale was administered to 284 university students enrolled in the Nursing Degree. The results from the factorial analysis confirmed the structure of sensitiveness of six factors in our sample. This structure included the following dimensions: (1) Instability, (2) Surroundings, (3) Interaction with others, (4) Sensoperception, (5) Sensitivity, and (6) Insecurity. Additionally, the Cronbach's α values indicated that the Spanish version of the r-HSP scale had an adequate reliability (α = 0.702). The r-HSP scale is defined as a reliable, valid, and agile replica of the original structure of sensitivity in Spanish university students.

Associations Between Chronic Irritability and Sensory Processing Difficulties in Children and Adolescents

Irritability is one of the most common reasons for which children and adolescents are referred for psychiatric evaluation and care. However, clinical irritability is difficult to define; thus, its prevalence varies widely. Chronic irritability may be associated with sensory processing difficulties (SPD), but little is known about the relationship between these two factors in clinical populations. In this study, we examined the prevalence of chronic irritability and its association with SPD in 166 children aged 5-16 years who were referred to the psychiatric outpatient clinic of the Osaka City University Hospital. Chronic irritability and parent-reported scores for the Short Sensory Profile, Infant Behavior Checklist-Revised, Child Behavior Checklist, and Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (Present and Lifetime version) questionnaires were used for assessment. A total of 22 children (13.2%) presented with chronic irritability (i.e., the irritability group) and were more likely to have oppositional defiant disorder, externalizing problems, and attention issues than those without chronic irritability (i.e., the control group). SPD were reported in eight (36%) patients in the irritability group and in 21 (15%) in the control group (p = 0.029). Moreover, compared to the control group, the irritability group showed a significant difference in almost all items of the Short Sensory Profile. Chronic irritability was associated with more severe overall SPD, even after adjusting for possible confounding factors (internalizing and externalizing problems, age, sex, and low income). We provide evidence to support our hypothesis that chronic irritability is associated with SPD in children and adolescents. Therefore, SPD should be assessed to provide appropriate interventions in children and adolescents with chronic irritability.