Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Adult Attachment in Emotional Regulation Difficulties

Abstract

Background: Approximately one-fifth of the world’s population has a temperament trait called Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), expressed as increased awareness to perceive subtle stimuli and high emotional reactivity. These people are more sensitive to the environment and parenthood, so the development of psychopathology may be due to insecure attachment in conjunction with high sensitivity, not only to high sensitivity. However, there is little information on how SPS interacts with attachment style concerning Emotional Regulation, whose alteration is considered the underlying mechanism that allows understanding and preventing psychopathology’s emergence. Objective: This research’s objective was to evaluate the importance of SPS and attachment styles as predictors of difficulties in emotional regulation (ERD). Method: 1050 university students participated. To determine the direct and indirect relationships of the independent variables, generalized linear models and structural equations were used. Results: Only anxious attachment was indirectly related to ERD through the SPS. SPS-attachment interaction seems to increase the probability of ERD compared to a low level of SPS regardless of attachment style. An anxious attachment was found to be the best predictor of ERD. Conclusions: Difficulties in regulating emotions in highly sensitive people are difficult to avoid, even with a secure attachment.