Demographic profile of Sensory Processing Sensitivity

Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) refers to a genetically-based temperament trait associated with enhanced awareness and response to environmental stimuli. SPS is the first framework to develop a psychometric tool that captures sensitivity to environments directly as a phenotypic trait in adults and children. Although there is abundant literature on SPS, no study so far has focused on demographic aspects. On a large sample from the general population and embedded in the perspective of different sensitivity levels previously identified in the literature (i.e., low, medium and high SPS), we explored, through latent class analysis, how SPS manifests at a demographic level. Our findings revealed that low-SPS, medium-SPS and high-SPS individuals can be characterised by probabilistic demographic profiles. The most likely profile of a highly sensitive participant in our sample included being a woman between 35 and 44 years old with university study level, married and with 2 children, employed at full time and owning or renting a house. Our study offers demographic evidence for the existence of three sensitivity levels and, for the first time, a demographic profile corresponding to the SPS personality trait is outlined. The findings may have practical implications in the context of clinical psychology, mental health interventions, and educational or workplace settings. • Study of Sensory Processing Sensitivity on a large sample from general population • Sensory processing sensitivity levels can be characterised by demographic profiles • A probabilistic demographic profile of the highly sensitive person is outlined • Demographics (e.g. age or gender) may inform about the SPS personality trait • Facilitates adopting targeted educational/workplace policies to enhance well-being