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

Genetics of environmental sensitivity and its association with variations in emotional problems, autistic traits, and wellbeing

Greater environmental sensitivity has been associated with increased risk of mental health problems, especially in response to stressors, and lower levels of subjective wellbeing. Conversely, sensitivity also correlates with lower risk of emotional problems in the absence of adversity, and in response to positive environmental influences. Additionally, sensitivity has been found to correlate positively with autistic traits. Individual differences in environmental sensitivity are partly heritable, but it is unknown to what extent the aetiological factors underlying sensitivity overlap with those on emotional problems (anxiety and depressive symptoms), autistic traits and wellbeing. The current study used multivariate twin models and data on sensitivity, emotional problems, autistic traits, and several indices of psychological and subjective wellbeing, from over 2800 adolescent twins in England and Wales. We found that greater overall sensitivity correlated with greater emotional problems, autistic traits, and lower subjective wellbeing. A similar pattern of correlations was found for the Excitation and Sensory factors of sensitivity, but, in contrast, the Aesthetic factor was positively correlated with psychological wellbeing, though not with emotional problems nor autistic traits. The observed correlations were largely due to overlapping genetic influences. Importantly, genetic influences underlying sensitivity explained between 2 and 12% of the variations in emotional problems, autistic traits, and subjective wellbeing, independent of trait-specific or overlapping genetic influences. These findings encourage incorporating the genetics of environmental sensitivity in future genomic studies aiming to delineate the heterogeneity in emotional problems, autistic traits, and wellbeing.

Aesthetic sensitivity: relationship with openness to experience and agreeableness, health-related quality of life and adaptive coping strategies in people with high sensory processing sensitivity

Aesthetic sensitivity in people with high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) reflects the positive perception of life, especially aspects related to the arts and nature. This study is focused on the analysis of the effect of aesthetic sensitivity in relation to indicators of health-related quality of life (general health, mental health and emotional role), the personality traits openness to experience and agreeableness, and coping strategies in people with SPS. The adult participants (N = 10,520, mean age = 33.61) completed the Spanish versions of the High Sensitivity Person Scale (HSPS-S), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI). It was observed that people with high aesthetic sensitivity presented greater openness and agreeableness, tended to use adaptive coping strategies and showed a slightly poorer functioning in different areas of daily living. Moreover, health-related quality of life, mental health and adaptive coping strategies occupied central positions in the correlations between variables, with a positive impact between mental health and adaptive coping strategies with openness and agreeableness. Lastly, the level of aesthetic sensitivity did not play a moderator role, and it exerted no differential influence on its relationship with the analysed variables. Now, it has been found that people with high levels of aesthetic sensitivity cope more adequately, which would cushion the effect that high SPS can have on mental health, specifically on anxious and depressive symptoms. It is concluded that these findings are relevant and useful for future propositions of prevention and clinical intervention, as well as for counselling in the psychoeducational, labour and family scopes, amongst others.

Prevalence of Highly Sensitive Personality and Its Relationship With Depression, and Anxiety in the Saudi General Population

Background Highly sensitive personality (HSP) occurs in those who experience stronger processing of emotions and responses to both internal and external stimuli; this, in turn, could cause persons with highly sensitive personalities to suffer from affective disorders such as depression and anxiety at higher rates. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of highly sensitive personality and its relationship with depression and anxiety among the Saudi general population. Subject and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population in Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to the target population using an online survey. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic data (i.e., age, gender, marital status, etc.), the Highly Sensitive Person Scale to measure the degree of sensitivity, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to measure anxiety and depression. Results Of the 438 participants, 72.6% were females, and 48.9% were aged between 18 to 25 years. The prevalence of HSP in this study was 29%. Abnormal levels of anxiety and depression were found in 29.5% and 19.9%, respectively. Significant relationships were observed between HSP in terms of anxiety (p<0.001) and depression (p=0.001). It is interesting to note that a previous diagnosis of mental disorder was identified as a significant risk factor for HSP, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of HSP in our population, which was significantly associated with anxiety and depression. Further, female participants were more likely to exhibit HSP and anxiety but not depression. These findings highlight the importance of prevention programs intended for highly sensitive persons with associated mental conditions.