Overview

• A preregistered meta-analysis of 33 studies involving nearly 12,700 participants found moderate positive correlations (r≈0.36 for depression, r≈0.39 for anxiety) with high environmental sensitivity.
• About 31% of people are estimated to be highly sensitive, characterized by deeper processing of sensory input and emotional cues.
• Sensitivity also showed variable positive associations with other disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, agoraphobia and social phobia.
• Researchers recommend incorporating sensitivity assessments into clinical practice, noting that highly sensitive individuals may benefit more from mindfulness, applied relaxation and similar interventions.
• The analysis highlighted limitations—most studies were cross-sectional, used self-report measures and focused on young, educated samples—driving calls for longitudinal, diverse and treatment-based research to test causality and refine therapies.