Sensory processing sensitivity and its associations with guilt, shame, self-esteem, and neuroticism

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61989592%3A15260%2F25%3A73634316" target="_blank" >RIV/61989592:15260/25:73634316 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-025-03530-1" target="_blank" >https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-025-03530-1</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03530-1" target="_blank" >10.1186/s40359-025-03530-1</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Sensory processing sensitivity and its associations with guilt, shame, self-esteem, and neuroticism

Original language description

Background Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a trait linked to deeper processing of stimuli and heightened emotional reactivity. These characteristics suggest a potential link to more intense self-conscious emotions. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between SPS, feelings of guilt, shame, and self-esteem, and to test whether these relationships are independent of the influence of neuroticism. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from an online survey of Czech adults (n = 1012; 49.3 +/- 16.7 years, 50.4% female). Participants completed measures of SPS (Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire, SPSQ; Highly Sensitive Person Scale), feelings of guilt and shame (Guilt and Shame Experience Scale), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and neuroticism (the neuroticism subscale of the Big Five Inventory). The associations were examined using linear and logistic regression models, with adjustments for neuroticism and key demographic variables. Results Linear regression analyses showed that higher SPS was significantly associated with increased feelings of guilt and shame, and with lower self-esteem. After adjustment for neuroticism, the association between SPS and self-esteem was no longer significant (beta approximate to 0.03, p &gt; 0.05), whereas the beta-coefficients for feelings of guilt and shame were reduced but remained significant. Logistic regression analyses comparing low, medium, and high SPS groups and, separately, the equivalent levels on the Sensory Sensitivity subscale of the SPSQ, indicated that highly sensitive individuals were more likely to report feelings of guilt alone and combined guilt and shame, with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 4.42 (95% CI 2.17-8.99, p &lt; 0.001) to 6.38 (95% CI 3.08-13.25, p &lt; 0.001). No significant associations emerged between SPS and feelings of shame alone or low self-esteem. Analyses using alternative SPS measures yielded broadly similar results, with the Highly Sensitive Person Scale showing even stronger associations with feelings of guilt and shame, while again no effect was found for self-esteem. Conclusions Highly sensitive individuals appear to be more prone to experiencing heightened feelings of guilt and, to a lesser degree, shame. However, the initially observed negative association between SPS and self-esteem was no longer significant after neuroticism was included in the model.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

50101 - Psychology (including human - machine relations)

Project

<a href="/en/project/EH22_008%2F0004583" target="_blank" >EH22_008/0004583: Research of Excellence on Digital Technologies and Wellbeing</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

BMC Psychology

ISSN

2050-7283

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

13

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

13

Pages from-to

nestránkováno

UT code for WoS article

001606612300002

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105020404367