RESEARCH PAPER
Psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptation of the Highly Sensitive Child Scale for use with adults
1
Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
2
Institute of Psychology and Human Sciences, WSEI University, Lublin, Poland
3
School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
Submission date: 2024-10-16
Final revision date: 2025-10-02
Acceptance date: 2025-10-22
Online publication date: 2026-01-23
Corresponding author
Nicolás Ruiz-Robledillo
Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
KEYWORDS
psychometric propertiesreliabilityvalidityenvironmental sensitivityHighly Sensitive Child Scale for use in adults
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Sensory processing sensitivity is the capacity to detect and interpret external and internal stimuli, which varies significantly among individuals. The Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) is a widely used tool for measuring this personality trait. To extend this research to children and adolescents, the Highly Sensitive Child Scale (HSCS) was developed.
Participants and procedure:
This study focused on adapting and psychometrically analyzing a 12-item Spanish version of the HSCS for use in adults (HSCS-A). This version was administered to 372 adults aged 18 to 75. The Spanish 27-item HSPS was applied to analyze convergent validity.
Results:
The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed that the three-factor structure of the test had the best fit indices in the Spanish sample, which was composed of three subscales: Ease of Excitation; Low Sensory Threshold; and Aesthetic Sensitivity. Internal consistency values (α/ω > 0.8) indicate that this Spanish version of the HSCS-A is adequate to measure environmental sensitivity. Positive and significant bivariate correlations for convergent validity demonstrated moderate and strong relationships between HSCS-A and HSPS-27 dimensions and the general factor of sensitivity (r = .83, p < .001).
Conclusions:
This study produced results consistent with recent research on the measurement of environmental sensitivity. The Spanish version of the HSCS for use in adults appears to be a reliable tool for measuring sensitivity across the life cycle.
Sensory processing sensitivity is the capacity to detect and interpret external and internal stimuli, which varies significantly among individuals. The Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) is a widely used tool for measuring this personality trait. To extend this research to children and adolescents, the Highly Sensitive Child Scale (HSCS) was developed.
Participants and procedure:
This study focused on adapting and psychometrically analyzing a 12-item Spanish version of the HSCS for use in adults (HSCS-A). This version was administered to 372 adults aged 18 to 75. The Spanish 27-item HSPS was applied to analyze convergent validity.
Results:
The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed that the three-factor structure of the test had the best fit indices in the Spanish sample, which was composed of three subscales: Ease of Excitation; Low Sensory Threshold; and Aesthetic Sensitivity. Internal consistency values (α/ω > 0.8) indicate that this Spanish version of the HSCS-A is adequate to measure environmental sensitivity. Positive and significant bivariate correlations for convergent validity demonstrated moderate and strong relationships between HSCS-A and HSPS-27 dimensions and the general factor of sensitivity (r = .83, p < .001).
Conclusions:
This study produced results consistent with recent research on the measurement of environmental sensitivity. The Spanish version of the HSCS for use in adults appears to be a reliable tool for measuring sensitivity across the life cycle.
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