Five-factor model based profile of environmental sensitivity: a blend of personality facets across domains

• In Event: 3-207 - Investigating Differential Susceptibility across Childhood with Self- and Observed-Rated Measures of Environmental Sensitivity

Integrative Statement

Introduction and Hypotheses: The current paper presents a fine-grained examination of which FFM personality facets are specifically relevant for the assessment of the environmental sensitivity phenotype. A dual approach has been adopted: (a) associations between sensory processing sensitivity (as measured by the High Sensitive Personality scale) and the FFM personality domains and facets were examined in a community sample of late adolescents and young adults (Study 1); (b) FFM domains and facets that pop up as being low or high in high sensitive individuals, as compared to population norms, were identified using self evaluations of self-identified high sensitive individuals (Study 2) as well as expert ratings of professionals high sensitivity (Study 3). We hypothesized that environmental sensitivity would be related to a number of FFM facets across domains and that especially facets of the Neuroticism, Introversion and Openness domains would emerge as relevant.
Study populations and Methods: Study 1 included a community sample of 413 individuals aged 16-26 years (63% female). Study 2 included 565 self-identified highly sensitive individuals aged 17-49 years (86% female). Study 3 included 27 clinicians specialized in highly sensitive personality (100% female). Sensory processing sensivity was assessed using the 12-item version of the Highly Sensitive Person scale; FFM personality traits were assessed using the NEO-PI-3. In studies 2 and 3, NEO-PI-3 scores corresponding to stanines below 4 (i.e. Pc1-23) or above 6 (i.e. Pc 87-100) were considered ‘low’ resp. ‘high’.
Results:Across the three studies, several facets within the domains of Neuroticism, Extraversion and Openness emerged as relevant to environmental sensitivity. The domains of Agreeableness (with the exception of one facet) and Conscientiousness, however, appeared to be irrelevant. Based on these results, a FFM-based environmental sensitivity score was calculated, comprising 10 facets across 4 domains. Using the data from Study 1, it proved to be significantly associated with the HSP score (r=.60). Importantly, the FFM-based environmental sensitivity score moderated the association between attachment insecurity and depressive symptoms, whereas the HSP score did not.

Authors

• Patricia Bijttebier, KU Leuven
  Presenting Author

• Sofie Weyn, KU Leuven
  Non-Presenting Author

• Filip De Fruyt, Ghent University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Margot Bastin, KU Leuven
  Non-Presenting Author

• Michael Pluess, Queen Mary University of London
  Non-Presenting Author

• Karla Van Leeuwen, KU Leuven
  Non-Presenting Author