Early predictors of sensory processing sensitivity in members of the Birth to Twenty Plus cohort

Abstract

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a personality trait describing individuals who are more receptive to their environmental context. SPS has implications across the lifespan, but few longitudinal predictors of the trait are currently known. We examined potential predictors of adult SPS levels among 858 members of the Birth to Twenty Plus cohort. Available data included birth weight, gestational age, socioeconomic status, prenatal maternal stress (PMS), child behaviour scores, and genotypes for three loci (5-HTTLPR, DRD4, and MAOA). Highly Sensitive Person scale scores at ages 28–29 were regressed on these variables. Early gestational age (p <.01) and PMS (p = .05) were significantly associated with higher SPS. Our results tentatively support the hypothesis that prenatal adversity is associated with heightened sensitivity.