Psychological factors associated with sensory processing sensitivity in professional caregivers: A systematic review

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dc.check.date2027-08-27
dc.contributor.authorConnery, Tadgh
dc.contributor.authorDoyle, Megan
dc.contributor.authorMurphy, Mike
dc.contributor.authorSetti, Annalisa
dc.contributor.funderNational University of Ireland
dc.date.accessioned2026-09-15T09:30:02Z
dc.date.available2026-09-15T09:30:02Z
dc.date.issued2026-08-27
dc.description.abstractIndividuals working in caregiving environments are more susceptible to experiencing poor mental health than other workers, with interest growing across the literature in identifying psychological factors that increase vulnerability and resilience for professional caregivers. Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is known to increase susceptibility to positive and negative environments. However, research about SPS and professional caregiving has yet to be summarised. After systematically searching eight academic databases and Google Scholar and reviewing 2,795 records for inclusion eligibility, six studies were included in the current systematic review. SPS was positively associated with negative mental health outcomes for professional caregivers, including stress, burnout and emotional exhaustion, and associated with occupational outcomes such as inappropriate caregiving strategies, higher compassion fatigue, more psychological demands and greater perceived social support. For professional caregivers high in SPS, social support reduced compassion fatigue through perceived stress, indicating the importance of integrating occupational supports within stressful working environments to enhance the well-being of high SPS caregivers. The current review indicates that SPS is a risk factor within professional caregiving, but highlights that areas of SPS-related strengths are under-investigated, with a need for future research in this area to support more sensitive caregivers to thrive at work.en
dc.description.sponsorshipNational University of Ireland
dc.description.versionAccepted Version
dc.format.extent16
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.articleid1417
dc.identifier.authororcidConnery, Tadgh§0000-0002-1271-273X
dc.identifier.authororcidDoyle, Megan
dc.identifier.authororcidMurphy, Mike§0000-0002-8379-3813
dc.identifier.authororcidSetti, Annalisa§0000-0002-9741-2559
dc.identifier.citationConnery, T, Doyle, M, Murphy, M & Setti, A 2026, 'Psychological factors associated with sensory processing sensitivity in professional caregivers: A systematic review', Current Psychology, vol. 45, no. 17, 1417, pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-026-09935-4
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s12144-026-09935-4
dc.identifier.endpage16
dc.identifier.issn1046-1310
dc.identifier.issued17
dc.identifier.journaltitleCurrent Psychology
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-1271-273X/work/224977717
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-8379-3813/work/226857268
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-9741-2559/work/226857382
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/19254
dc.identifier.volume45
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.relation.urihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-026-09935-4
dc.rights© 2026, the Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026.
dc.rights.accessrightsembargoed access
dc.statusPeer reviewed
dc.subjectBurnout
dc.subjectCaregiving
dc.subjectProfessional caregivers
dc.subjectSensory processing sensitivity
dc.subjectStress
dc.subjectSystematic review
dc.subject[Law]
dc.subject[AppliedPsychology]
dc.titlePsychological factors associated with sensory processing sensitivity in professional caregivers: A systematic reviewen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)
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