Development and Validation of the Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire (SPSQ)

• In Event: Advancing the Measurement of Environmental Sensitivity Across Different Countries, Developmental Periods, and Contexts

Abstract

The Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) developed by Aron & Aron (1997) focuses on strong physiological and emotional reactions to high-intensity stimuli and the need to withdraw when confronted with too many stimuli. Positive items, related to heightened sensitivity to subtle stimuli are however underrepresented. The objective of the present study was (a) to develop a new self-report measure covering a broader spectrum of both positive and negative dimensions, and (b) to assess the construct validity and reliability of this new questionnaire.
A 60-item self-report questionnaire was developed, covering sensory discomfort, perceptual sensitivity (to internal (bodily) stimuli and external stimuli), affective perceptual sensitivity (social-emotional and aesthetic), depth of processing, sensory comfort, and emotional reactivity. This questionnaire was filled out by 10.298 respondents from the general population (37% men/Age (Years): M=41.51, SD=12.75). To assess construct validity, the factor structure was determined on the basis of a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The reliability of the questionnaire was addressed by assessing its internal consistency.
The PCA resulted in a 6-factor structure, explaining 46 % of the total variance. The 6 factors were labelled ‘Emotional reactivity’, ‘Sensory discomfort to strong stimuli’, ‘Sensitivity to subtle internal/external stimuli’, ‘Aesthetic sensitivity’, ‘Sensory comfort’, and ‘Social-affective sensitivity’. The internal consistency of the total scale and the 6 subscales ranged from .67 (for ‘Sensory comfort’) to .91 (for the total scale).
The 6 factors that were found in the present study reflect the core dimensions of the theoretical concept Sensory Processing Sensitivity, with positive and negative dimensions being equally represented. The next step will be to look at predictive validity with respect to clinical outcomes, and to assess the incremental validity of the SPSQ over and above big five dimensions with respect to these clinical outcomes.

Author

• Véronique de Gucht, Leiden University
  Presenting Author