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. 2015 Dec 1:87:24-29.
doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2015.07.020.

Sensory-processing sensitivity moderates the association between childhood experiences and adult life satisfaction

Charlotte Booth  1 , Helen Standage  2 , Elaine Fox  1
Affiliations

Sensory-processing sensitivity moderates the association between childhood experiences and adult life satisfaction

Charlotte Booth et al. Pers Individ Dif. .

Abstract

There are few studies testing the differential susceptibility hypothesis (DSH: hypothesizing that some individuals are more responsive to both positive and negative experiences) with adult personality traits. The current study examined the DSH by investigating the moderating effect of sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) on childhood experiences and life satisfaction. A total of 185 adults completed measures of SPS, positive/negative childhood experiences and life satisfaction. SPS did moderate the association between childhood experiences and life satisfaction. Simple slopes analysis compared those reporting high and low SPS (+/-1 SD) and revealed that the difference was observed only for those who reported negative childhood experiences; with the high SPS group reporting lower life satisfaction. There was no difference observed in those reporting positive childhood experiences, which supported a diathesis-stress model rather than the DSH.

Keywords: Differential susceptibility; Life satisfaction; Personality; Sensory processing sensitivity; Stress and coping.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Simple slopes for moderated regression of SPS (1 SD above and below the mean) and childhood experiences interaction predicting life satisfaction.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Simple slopes for moderated regression of EOE (1 SD above and below the mean) and childhood experiences interaction predicting life satisfaction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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