“Highly Sensitive” Personality Trait and Mental Health Outcomes

A new meta-analysis of 33 studies suggests that individuals with the highly sensitive personality trait are more prone to depression and anxiety, yet they also tend to respond more strongly to psychotherapy. Researchers argue that this sensory-processing sensitivity, often seen as a vulnerability, may also represent an untapped strength in treatment.

Key Points

• A new meta-analysis shows that people with the highly sensitive personality trait face higher risks of depression and anxiety.
• The same review finds that highly sensitive individuals often experience greater improvements from therapies such as CBT and mindfulness.
• Sensitivity should be recognized as both a risk factor and a potential strength, underscoring the need for personalized care.

Study at a Glance

• Journal & Date: Clinical Psychology Review, August 18, 2025 — ScienceDaily summary
• Study Design & Population: Meta-analysis of 33 studies, covering over 12,000 participants across Europe, North America, and Asia.
• Primary Outcomes: Higher risk of depression and anxiety in individuals with high sensory-processing sensitivity, but stronger average improvements after therapy response compared with controls.

What’s New vs Prior Evidence

Previous studies on sensitivity and mental health were often small and inconsistent, leaving uncertainty about whether the trait truly increases risk. Some suggested that highly sensitive people were more vulnerable to stress, while others found little or no link to depression or anxiety. The new meta-analysis, which combined data from 33 studies and more than 12,000 participants, provides much stronger evidence for a consistent association. It shows that sensitivity not only raises the likelihood of mental health problems but also predicts greater benefits from therapy. This dual finding reframes sensitivity from being seen only as a liability to being recognized as a marker of both risk and opportunity.

Expert Comment

Michael Pluess, Professor of Developmental Psychology at Queen Mary University of London, explains:

“High sensitivity is often misunderstood as a weakness, but research shows it is a double-edged sword. Individuals with this trait are indeed more vulnerable to stress and therefore more likely to experience depression or anxiety. At the same time, they tend to respond particularly well to psychological therapies, sometimes more than less sensitive individuals. This means sensitivity should not be pathologized, but rather recognized as a factor that can guide personalized care. If clinicians take sensitivity into account, they may be able to match patients with interventions that work best for them. The key challenge now is ensuring that this insight is translated into practical tools for sensitivity screening and treatment planning.”

Who Could Benefit

• Patients who identify as highly sensitive gain reassurance that their trait is not only a risk factor but also a potential strength.
• Families and caregivers may better understand the importance of supportive environments for sensitive individuals.
• Clinicians and therapists can use sensitivity screening to anticipate both risks and positive therapy responses.
• Researchers and policymakers gain a framework for targeted interventions that harness vantage sensitivity rather than stigmatize it.

Limitations & Uncertainties

• Most included studies were cross-sectional, so causality cannot be proven.
• Measures of sensitivity varied across studies, creating possible inconsistencies.
• Cultural differences may affect how sensitivity is expressed and linked to mental health outcomes.
• Few trials measured long-term outcomes, so it remains unclear whether benefits persist after therapy ends.

What Happens Next

Researchers are now working to develop practical tools for identifying sensitivity in clinical settings. Larger, long-term studies are needed to confirm whether this trait reliably predicts who benefits most from different therapies. If validated, sensitivity screening could become part of routine care, allowing treatments to be better matched to individual patients.

Summary

Some people are more sensitive to their environment, and this trait can make them more likely to feel stress, depression, or anxiety. The same sensitivity, however, also means they often improve more with therapy compared to less sensitive individuals. Recognizing sensitivity as both a risk and an opportunity could help tailor mental health care more effectively.

Glossary

• Sensory-Processing Sensitivity: A personality trait describing heightened awareness and responsiveness to stimuli.
• Meta-Analysis: A statistical method that combines results from many studies to draw stronger conclusions.
• Plasticity Factor: A quality that increases responsiveness to both positive and negative influences.
• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): A structured form of psychotherapy that focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
• Mindfulness-Based Therapy: A psychological treatment using meditation and awareness practices to reduce stress and prevent relapse.

References

1. Lionetti, F., Aron, A., Aron, E. N., Burns, G. L., Jagiellowicz, J., & Pluess, M. (2018). Dandelions, tulips and orchids: Evidence for the existence of low-sensitive, medium-sensitive and high-sensitive individuals. Translational Psychiatry, 8(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-017-0090-6
2. Pluess, M., & Belsky, J. (2013). Vantage sensitivity: Individual differences in response to positive experiences. Psychological Bulletin, 139(4), 901–916. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030196