To what extent is the effect of sensory processing sensitivity on distress mediated by resilience? Putting the diathesis-stress model to the test in a sample of gifted adults

The purpose of this prospective study was to examine (a) whether Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) measured at baseline (T0) predicts distress at one year follow-up (T1), and (b) whether and in what way resilience mediates the effect of SPS on distress. The study sample consisted of gifted adults. A total of 738 respondents participated in the study at T0 and T1 (mean age of 44.86; 63.4% female). Structural Equation Modeling and logistic regression analysis were conducted. A high level of SPS at T0 predicted psychological (anxiety and depression) and somatic (physical symptoms and fatigue) distress at T1. As far as indirect effects are concerned, results depended upon whether we looked at the negative or positive higher-order dimension of SPS. A higher score on negative SPS was associated with lower resilience which in turn led to more distress, indicating that low resilience increased the negative impact of negative SPS on distress. In contrast, a higher score on positive SPS was related to more resilience, resulting in less distress, suggesting that in this case resilience had a buffering effect. As resilience is a buffer between SPS and distress, follow-up research could focus on psychological interventions aimed at increasing resilience.