This next piece is written by, and copied with permission, from Dr Andrew May, a researcher in high sensitivity and a member of HSPconnect.
My colleague, Tom Falkenstein (author of The Highly Sensitive Man) recently published a review and meta-analysis (an analysis of multiple independent studies – useful for detecting larger research trends) of the link between mental health and sensitivity, measured using the original HSP scale.
Across 33 different studies, Tom found that there is a consistent link between sensitivity and heightened anxiety and depression. Of the three facets of sensitivity (in the original scale), ease of excitation (EOE) and low sensory threshold (LST) are most significantly correlated. The positive facet of sensitivity, aesthetic sensitivity (AES), has little to no correlation with mental health problems.
What does this mean?
These results provide robust evidence that HSPs are more prone to anxiety and depression as a consequence of two main features of sensitivity. Firstly, because we are easily overwhelmed (due to LST), it’s no surprise that we begin to feel anxious and depressed about the increasing demand placed on us in the modern world. Secondly, although our capacity for deep cognitive processing (EOE) can be hugely beneficial, it is often hijacked for the purposes of rumination and worry, which amplify both anxiety and depression.
Our unparalleled enjoyment of the arts, music, nature, and culture in general (AES) are what balance out these risks. There is still a small correlation between aesthetic sensitivity and mental health challenges, but I suspect this is because art and music are often cathartic ways to explore, express, and discuss painful human emotions and experiences.
Note that these are the assumed direct links between sensitivity and mental health challenges in HSPs. None of the studies dealt with indirect links, such as minority stress and other stressful life events (e.g. trauma).
What are the implications?
The consensus across studies is that mindfulness may be a particularly beneficial coping strategy for HSPs. Mindfulness helps to limit the application of our deep cognitive processing to unhelpful amounts of rumination and worry. Understanding your sensitivity profile (how you score across the different facets of sensitivity) could also be beneficial to you and any mental health practitioners you work with, because it helps identify the best coping strategies moving forward.
What are the limitations?
Of the 12,000 participants represented in the 33 studies, most of them were females from WEIRD countries (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic). This further highlights our discussion in the “Why the new HPS test matters” event about “faking bad” in men, and lack of global representation in scientific research.
Article reception
Tom’s article is amongst the highest trending articles in psychology research at the moment, suggesting more and more people are aware of, and becoming interested in, sensitivity. Many news outlets have mentioned the study, and most of these in a responsible way. Unfortunately, the Daily Mail also caught wind of the study and published an article with a very misleading and attention-grabbing title showing just how easily the press can mislead the public!