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

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 (β ≈ 0.03, p > 0.05), whereas the β-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 < 0.001) to 6.38 (95% CI 3.08–13.25, p < 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.