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Exploring the Multidimensional Structure of Sensory Processing Sensitivity in Turkish Samples

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Abstract

We compared alternative models to explore the multidimensionality of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS; Aron and Aron 1997) on two Turkish samples. Using exploratory factor analysis, first study (N = 412) yielded four factors representing diverse domains of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS). Using both traditional confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), a second study (N = 341) confirmed the multidimensionality of the HSPS, and demonstrated that the four-factor ESEM solution (sensitivity to external stimuli, aesthetic sensitivity, harm avoidance, and sensitivity to overstimulation) was superior to the previously reported alternative models. Four factors were also systematically associated with the external validators including big five personality traits. Findings suggested that a multifaceted approach to SPS representing domain-specific sensitivities is needed.

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Funding

This study was not funded by any institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Gülbin Şengül-İnal & Nebi Sümer

Authors
  1. Gülbin Şengül-İnal
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  2. Nebi Sümer
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Correspondence to Gülbin Şengül-İnal.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the studies.

Additional information

This research was approved by Middle East Technical University Research Center for Applied Ethics. We express our sincere thanks to Dr. Barbara Maclean for her invaluable comments and recommendations. We would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments and suggestions.

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Şengül-İnal, G., Sümer, N. Exploring the Multidimensional Structure of Sensory Processing Sensitivity in Turkish Samples. Curr Psychol 39, 194–206 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9751-0

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