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. 2019 Oct 3;5(10):e02508.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02508. eCollection 2019 Oct.

Relationship between sensory-processing sensitivity and age in a large cross-sectional Japanese sample

Yuki Ueno  1 , Aki Takahashi  2 , Atsushi Oshio  3
Affiliations

Relationship between sensory-processing sensitivity and age in a large cross-sectional Japanese sample

Yuki Ueno et al. Heliyon. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Sensory-processing sensitivity is a trait involving inherent individual differences that typically manifest in the brain's handling of sensory information (Aron and Aron, 1997). Studies regarding sensory-processing sensitivity have focused on specific age ranges; however, developmental changes in sensory-processing sensitivity have not been studied. This study aimed to examine the relationship between sensory-processing sensitivity and age in Japanese adults (N = 1,983, 1,078 men). Participants ranging in age from 20-69 completed the Japanese version of the 19-item Highly Sensitive Person Scale (Takahashi, 2016). Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that low sensory threshold and ease of excitation decrease linearly with age, whereas aesthetic sensitivity increases linearly with age. In contrast, age-related changes in sensory-processing sensitivity do not differ by sex. Thus, the status of age-related changes differs slightly based on sensory-processing sensitivity factors.

Keywords: Age; Highly sensitive person; Japanese adults; Large cross-sectional study; Neuroscience; Sensory-processing sensitivity.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Estimated regression lines of the Japanese version of the 19-item Highly Sensitive Person Scale with significant age-related effects by controlling for sex.
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