Relationships of sensory processing sensitivity with creativity and empathy in an adult sample
IntroductionSensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) describes individual differences in sensitivity to environments, but there is little research on potential positive correlates of SPS. Hereby we investigate whether SPS and its Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES) component are associated with different facets...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1465407/full |
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| author | Britta A. P. Laros-van Gorkom Britta A. P. Laros-van Gorkom Christienne G. Damatac Christienne G. Damatac Inez Stevelmans Corina U. Greven Corina U. Greven Corina U. Greven |
| author_facet | Britta A. P. Laros-van Gorkom Britta A. P. Laros-van Gorkom Christienne G. Damatac Christienne G. Damatac Inez Stevelmans Corina U. Greven Corina U. Greven Corina U. Greven |
| author_sort | Britta A. P. Laros-van Gorkom |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionSensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) describes individual differences in sensitivity to environments, but there is little research on potential positive correlates of SPS. Hereby we investigate whether SPS and its Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES) component are associated with different facets of creativity and empathy.MethodsQuestionnaires on SPS, creativity and empathy were administered to 296 participants and data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression.ResultsHigher SPS total and AES scores were associated with more creative ideas (SPS: β = 0.294, pfdr < 0.001; AES: β = 0.484, pfdr < 0.001). Only AES was associated with more creative activities (AES: β = 0.292, pfdr < 0.001). Furthermore, higher SPS total and AES scores were associated with more overall empathy (SPS: β = 0.428, pfdr < 0.001; AES: β = 0.373, pfdr < 0.001), affective empathy (SPS: β = 0.507, pfdr < 0.001; AES: β = 0.331, pfdr < 0.001), cognitive empathy (SPS: β = 0.2692, pfdr < 0.001; AES: β = 0.347, pfdr < 0.001), and less emotional disconnection (SPS: β = 0.234, pfdr β 0.001; AES: β = 0.210, pfdr β 0.001). Most associations remained significant after controlling for openness to experience, and the other SPS components of ease of excitation and low sensory threshold and gender, age, and education.DiscussionWe conclude that SPS and AES are associated with creativity and empathy. Strengthening these positive aspects might help highly sensitive people flourish. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-11995b8508f142dcacdd690f08eb7e96 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-11995b8508f142dcacdd690f08eb7e962025-01-15T04:11:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-01-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.14654071465407Relationships of sensory processing sensitivity with creativity and empathy in an adult sampleBritta A. P. Laros-van Gorkom0Britta A. P. Laros-van Gorkom1Christienne G. Damatac2Christienne G. Damatac3Inez Stevelmans4Corina U. Greven5Corina U. Greven6Corina U. Greven7Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, NetherlandsDepartment of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, NetherlandsDepartment of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, NetherlandsDonders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, NetherlandsFaculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, NetherlandsDepartment of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, NetherlandsDonders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, NetherlandsKarakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Centre, Nijmegen, NetherlandsIntroductionSensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) describes individual differences in sensitivity to environments, but there is little research on potential positive correlates of SPS. Hereby we investigate whether SPS and its Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES) component are associated with different facets of creativity and empathy.MethodsQuestionnaires on SPS, creativity and empathy were administered to 296 participants and data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression.ResultsHigher SPS total and AES scores were associated with more creative ideas (SPS: β = 0.294, pfdr < 0.001; AES: β = 0.484, pfdr < 0.001). Only AES was associated with more creative activities (AES: β = 0.292, pfdr < 0.001). Furthermore, higher SPS total and AES scores were associated with more overall empathy (SPS: β = 0.428, pfdr < 0.001; AES: β = 0.373, pfdr < 0.001), affective empathy (SPS: β = 0.507, pfdr < 0.001; AES: β = 0.331, pfdr < 0.001), cognitive empathy (SPS: β = 0.2692, pfdr < 0.001; AES: β = 0.347, pfdr < 0.001), and less emotional disconnection (SPS: β = 0.234, pfdr β 0.001; AES: β = 0.210, pfdr β 0.001). Most associations remained significant after controlling for openness to experience, and the other SPS components of ease of excitation and low sensory threshold and gender, age, and education.DiscussionWe conclude that SPS and AES are associated with creativity and empathy. Strengthening these positive aspects might help highly sensitive people flourish.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1465407/fullaesthetic sensitivitysensory processing sensitivityenvironmental sensitivitycreativityempathy |
| spellingShingle | Britta A. P. Laros-van Gorkom Britta A. P. Laros-van Gorkom Christienne G. Damatac Christienne G. Damatac Inez Stevelmans Corina U. Greven Corina U. Greven Corina U. Greven Relationships of sensory processing sensitivity with creativity and empathy in an adult sample Frontiers in Psychology aesthetic sensitivity sensory processing sensitivity environmental sensitivity creativity empathy |
| title | Relationships of sensory processing sensitivity with creativity and empathy in an adult sample |
| title_full | Relationships of sensory processing sensitivity with creativity and empathy in an adult sample |
| title_fullStr | Relationships of sensory processing sensitivity with creativity and empathy in an adult sample |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationships of sensory processing sensitivity with creativity and empathy in an adult sample |
| title_short | Relationships of sensory processing sensitivity with creativity and empathy in an adult sample |
| title_sort | relationships of sensory processing sensitivity with creativity and empathy in an adult sample |
| topic | aesthetic sensitivity sensory processing sensitivity environmental sensitivity creativity empathy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1465407/full |
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