Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2018 Jan-Feb:38:e35-e38.
doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2017.10.015. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Sweet and Sensitive: Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Type 1 Diabetes

Alon Goldberg  1 , Zaheera Ebraheem  2 , Cynthia Freiberg  3 , Rachel Ferarro  2 , Sharon Chai  4 , Orna Dally Gottfried  5
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Sweet and Sensitive: Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Type 1 Diabetes

Alon Goldberg et al. J Pediatr Nurs. 2018 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Objective: Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a recently proposed construct that refers to a genetically influenced tendency to more strongly and deeply process a variety of information. The aim of the study was to examine whether SPS is associated with an autoimmune disease such as type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Research design and methods: Participants were 128 adolescents (62 with T1D and 66 comparisons [without autoimmune disease]) and their parents who completed the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) questionnaire, assessing SPS level.

Results: Higher levels of SPS were found in the T1D group than in the comparison group. Furthermore, the frequency of SPS trait was significantly higher in the T1D group than in the comparison group.

Conclusions: T1D is associated with higher levels of SPS. Hence, there is a need to develop interventions, treatments, and care focused on the needs of T1D patients with SPS temperament, aimed at better treatment adherence. Furthermore, longitudinal research is needed to evaluate whether SPS is a risk factor in the development of T1D.

Keywords: Autoimmune disease; Sensory processing sensitivity; Type 1 diabetes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types