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First look at the five-factor model personality facet associations with sensory processing sensitivity

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A Correction to this article was published on 06 September 2021

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Abstract

The current paper presents an examination of the associations between Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality facets and Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) to understand which personality facets are especially relevant for SPS. Associations between SPS and the FFM personality domains and facets were examined in older adolescents and young adults (Study 1) as well as older children and young adolescents (Study 2). The most relevant facets were within the Neuroticism and Openness domains, although not all facets were equally important. Especially facets regarding internalizing tendencies and – in older adolescents and young adults – openness to aesthetics showed highest association with SPS. Facets of Extraversion were less associated to SPS. Facets of domains Agreeableness and Conscientiousness showed almost no relevance to SPS.

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Availability of Data and Material

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School Psychology and Development in Context, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Anne Sophie Bröhl, Margot Bastin, Sofie Weyn, Luc Goossens & Patricia Bijttebier

  2. Parenting and Special Education, KU Leuven, Vanderkelenstraat 32, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Karla Van Leeuwen

  3. School of Biological and Chemical Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK

    Michael Pluess

  4. Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Filip De Fruyt

Authors
  1. Anne Sophie Bröhl
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  2. Karla Van Leeuwen
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  3. Michael Pluess
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  4. Filip De Fruyt
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  5. Margot Bastin
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  6. Sofie Weyn
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  7. Luc Goossens
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  8. Patricia Bijttebier
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Contributions

PB designed the two studies. MB collected the data. ASB was responsible for data analysis and report writing. PB, KVL, MP, FDF, MB, SW and LG provided feedback on the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne Sophie Bröhl.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Ethics Approval

These studies were performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and in line with the ethical standards of the KU Leuven at the time of the data collection.

Consent to Participate & Publish

The research involves human participants; Active informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study, as well as passive informed consent from the parents (when applicable).

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The original vision of this article has been revised. Study 1 and 2 sections have been corrected.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Highly Sensitive Person Scale – Short Form (12 items; Pluess et al. in preparation):

  1. 1

    Do you seem to be aware of subtleties in your environment?

  2. 2

    Are you easily overwhelmed by things like bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens close by?

  3. 3

    Do you have a rich, complex inner life?

  4. 4

    Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?

  5. 5

    Are you deeply moved by the arts or music?

  6. 6

    Are you annoyed when people try to get you to do too many things at once?

  7. 7

    Do you make a point to avoid violent movies and TV shows?

  8. 8

    Do you find it unpleasant to have a lot going on at once?

  9. 9

    Do changes in your life shake you up?

  10. 10

    Do you notice and enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, works of art?

  11. 11

    Are you bothered by intense stimuli, like loud noises or chaotic scenes?

  12. 12

    When you must compete or be observed while performing a task, do you become so nervous or shaky that you do much worse than you would otherwise?

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Bröhl, A.S., Van Leeuwen, K., Pluess, M. et al. First look at the five-factor model personality facet associations with sensory processing sensitivity. Curr Psychol 41, 5034–5047 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00998-5

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