HSPs experience more stress at work than others, study says

Agitation at work is inevitable, but a new study suggests that 26% of the adult population may be a little more prone to work stress than others.

Researchers at Osaka University found that highly sensitive people (HSP) are “more sensitive” to stress and may experience it at higher levels than their peers.

They said this remained true even when counting people who were divided into optimists versus pessimists.

HSPs have something called sensory processing sensitivity, or SPS, which means they have heightened emotional sensitivity and reactivity to internal and external stimuli such as pain, light, and noise.

Psychologist Elaine Aron, who coined the term, explained that HSPs are often “easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input” such as bright lights, strong winds, harsh fabrics or sirens; are very sensitive to pain; feel uncomfortable with loud noises; and scare easily.

They also often feel the need to avoid violent media, are easily influenced by other people’s moods, have a “complex inner life” and are “deeply moved by art or music.”

All of this, according to a new study published in the Journal of Japanese Applied Psychology, can make the workplace a more stressful environment.

Analyzing the responses of 270 Japanese workers, they found a correlation between HSPs and higher perception of stress. The trait was also associated with a higher sense of alienation.

“Our study found that HSPs in the workplace tend to feel more stress, and approximately 26% of working adults can be classified as HSPs,” said lead author Tomohiro Ioku. “This is surprising because it suggests that a significant proportion of the workforce may be experiencing higher levels of stress.”

But there’s a plus side: They also found that being an HSP was associated with having more empathy.

“Our findings show that while HSPs are more sensitive to stress, their high levels of empathy can be a valuable asset to organizations, especially in roles that require strong interpersonal skills,” added senior author Eiichiro Watamura. .

“By understanding the unique characteristics of HSPs, industrial organizations can develop more inclusive and supportive environments,” says Ioku. “This can improve employee retention and overall well-being in the workplace.”