7,866
Views
7
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Is the relationship between sensory‐processing sensitivity and negative affect mediated by emotional regulation?

, , &
Pages 214-221 | Received 28 May 2014, Accepted 10 Nov 2014, Published online: 20 Nov 2020
 

Abstract

Objective

Sensory‐processing sensitivity refers to a trait‐like difference in the extent to which individuals strongly and deeply process a variety of stimuli in the environment. While being highly sensitive has been linked to increased experiences of distress, the reasons for this are not well known. One potential mediator of this effect is emotional regulation—the set of processes influencing which emotions we have, when we have them, and how we experience and express them. This study therefore aimed to investigate whether sensory processing sensitivity is linked to negative affect via emotional regulation processes.

Method

N = 157 participants (n = 118 females) completed online questionnaires assessing negative affect, sensory‐processing sensitivity, along with two multidimensional emotional regulation measures.

Results

An individual's lack of access to emotional regulation strategies, greater awareness of emotion, and lack of acceptance towards feeling distressed, acted as partial mediators between sensory‐processing sensitivity and symptoms of depression. Combinations of these variables also partially mediated the relationship between sensory‐processing sensitivity and symptoms of anxiety and stress.

Conclusions

It is suggested that repeatedly experiencing aversive sensory‐states among those with increased sensory‐processing sensitivity impacts on their general awareness and acceptance of internal states and the confidence that one can regulate them. This in turn leads to the experience of negative affective states. Limitations of the present study and implications for therapeutic interventions are discussed.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.