| Literature DB >> 35859641 |
Setti Annalisa1,2, Lionetti Francesca3,4, Kagari Rachel1, Motherway Liam1, Pluess Michael4.
Abstract
Heightened sensitivity to the environment characterizes approximately 30% of the population and is associated with a higher reactivity, positive or negative, to the surrounding environment. Little attention has been devoted to study the association between this trait and the response to nature and animals, despite the potential benefits of the natural environment for highly sensitive individuals. In the present two studies (N = 241, 83% female, age M = 37.43, SD = 13.5; N = 144, 92% female, age M = 39.9, SD = 13.1) we assessed the association of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), measured with the Highly Sensitive Person scale, with nature and animal affinity. In both studies, we found SPS to predict higher connectedness to nature. In addition, whilst there was no association between high SPS and attachment to pets in Study 1, in Study 2 SPS was predictive of a higher animal affinity, assessed in terms of stewardship and protection of animals. The present studies provide the first quantitative empirical evidence that highly sensitive individuals are more connected with nature and animals, therefore opening the possibility to explore nature based solutions to improve the quality of life in individuals scoring high in SPS.Entities:
Keywords: Animal affinity; Highly sensitive person; Nature connectedness; Sensory processing sensitivity
Year: 2022 PMID: 35859641 PMCID: PMC9293587 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09861
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Heliyon ISSN: 2405-8440
Figure 1Individual scores for the Nature Connectedness Scale and the HSP scale in Study 1. Correlation between Connectedness to Nature scale (CNS) and the Highly Sensitive Person scale (HSP), in Study 1. There was a significant positive correlation with increasing HSP associated with higher connectedness to nature.
Correlation between the variables included in Study 1.
| Age | Gender | Education | CNS Mean | SAPS Mean | HSP Mean | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | - | |||||
| Gender | .115 | - | ||||
| Education | .174∗∗ | .144∗ | - | |||
| CNS Mean | .105 | -.015 | -.184∗∗ | - | ||
| SAPS Mean | .022 | -.052 | .135∗ | -.339∗∗ | - | |
| HSP Mean | 0.061 | .160∗ | -.170∗∗ | .383∗∗ | -.171∗∗ | - |
Numbers represent the Spearman correlation coefficients. Significant correlations are indicated with an asterisk (p < 0.05∗; p < 0.01∗∗).
Figure 2Individual scores for the SAPS and the HSP scale in Study 1. Correlation between Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSP) and Short Attachment to Pets Scale (SAPS), in Study 1. Increasing values in the SAPS indicate lower attachment to pets. There is a significant negative correlation between these two variables.
Linear regression results predicting the mean score for the Connectedness to Nature Scale (A) and Short Attachment to Pets Scale (B).
| Variable Connectedness to Nature Scale (A) | B | SE B | β | t | p | CI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Constant) | 2.649 | .221 | 11.987 | .0001 | 2.21–3.08 | |
| Age | .004 | .002 | .116 | 1.936 | .054 | .000–.008 |
| Gender | -.066 | .075 | -.054 | -.879 | .380 | -.215–.082 |
| Years of Education | -.043 | .027 | -.099 | -1.601 | .111 | -.096–.01 |
| HSP (mean) | .191 | .031 | .376 | 6.144 | .0001 | .130–.252 |
| (Constant) | 2.342 | .501 | 4.671 | .0001 | 1.35–3.329 | |
| Age | .001 | .005 | .017 | .264 | .792 | -.008–.01 |
| Gender | -.081 | .171 | -.031 | -.471 | .638 | -.418–.257 |
| Years of Education | .103 | .061 | .113 | 1.683 | .094 | -.018–.224 |
| HSP (mean) | -.114 | .071 | -.108 | -1.620 | .107 | -.254–.025 |
Correlation between the variables included in Study 2.
| Age | Gender | Years Education | CNS study 2 | AAS mean | HSP mean Study 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | - | |||||
| Gender | .048 | - | ||||
| Years Education | .051 | -.008 | - | |||
| CNS study 2 | .177∗ | -.012 | -.036 | - | ||
| AAS mean | .061 | -.036 | -.066 | .213∗ | - | |
| HSP mean Study 2 | .013 | .121 | -.033 | .271∗∗ | .348∗∗ | - |
Numbers represent the Spearman correlation coefficients. Significant correlations are indicated.
Linear regression results predicting the mean score for the Connectedness to Nature Scale (Study 2) (A) and the Animal Affinity Scale (AAS) (B) with an asterisk (p < .05∗; p < .01∗∗).
| Variable Connectedness to Nature Scale (A) | B | SE B | β | t | p | CI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Constant) | 2.760 | .486 | 5.675 | .0001 | 1.80–3.72 | |
| Age | .008 | .004 | .168 | 2.067 | .041 | .000–.015 |
| Gender | -.134 | .181 | -.060 | -.740 | .460 | .-493-.224 |
| Years of Education | -.012 | .046 | -.021 | -.257 | .798 | -.104–.8 |
| HSP (mean) | .193 | .059 | .265 | 3.242 | .001 | .075–.310 |
| (Constant) | 2.227 | 0.715 | 3.113 | .002 | .813–3.641 | |
| Age | 0.005 | 0.005 | 0.071 | 0.897 | .371 | -.006–.016 |
| Gender | -0.375 | 0.267 | -0.112 | -1.406 | .162 | -.903–.152 |
| Years of Education | -0.072 | 0.068 | -0.084 | -1.060 | .291 | -.207–.063 |
| HSP (mean) | 0.385 | 0.087 | 0.351 | 4.402 | .0001 | .212–.557 |
Figure 3Individual scores for the Nature Connectedness Scale and the HSP scale in Study 2. Correlation between Connectedness to Nature scale (CNS) and the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) scale, in Study 2. There was a significant positive correlation with increasing HSP associated with higher connectedness to nature.
Figure 4Individual scores for the AAS and the HSP scale in Study 2. Correlation between scores in the Highly Sensitive Person Scale and the Animal Affinity Scale. There was a positive correlation between these two factors, with higher HSP associated in a greater affinity to animals.