Page 102 - JCBP-3-3

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Sensitivity, self-esteem, and affective dependence

Table 5. Linear regression in predicting affective dependence with sensory processing sensitivity
Affective dependence Unstandardized Standard error Standardized t p
H₀ (Intercept) 20.750 0.740 28.031 <0.001
H₁ (Intercept) 8.499 3.108 2.734 0.007
HSPS 0.109 0.027 0.378 4.042 <0.001
Self‑esteem Unstandardized Standard error Standardized t P
H₀ (Intercept) 28.530 0.711 40.142 <0.001
H₁ (Intercept) 44.217 2.784 15.883 <0.001
HSPS −0.140 0.024 −0.504 −5.778 <0.001
Abbreviation: HSPS: Highly sensitive person scale.

Table 6. Linear regression in predicting affective dependence with self‑esteem
Affective dependence Unstandardized Standard error Standardized t p
H0 (Intercept) 20.750 0.740 28.031 <0.001
H₁ (Intercept) 32.079 2.859 11.221 <0.001
RSES −0.397 0.097 −0.381 −4.083 <0.001
Abbreviation: RSES: Rosenberg self-esteem scale.

Table 7. Mediation analysis
Direct effects Estimate Standard error z‑value p 95% confidence interval
Lower Upper
HSPS-FR→ADS-9 0.072 0.030 2.393 0.017 0.013 0.131
Indirect effects
HSPS-FR→RSES→ADS-9 0.037 0.016 2.264 0.024 0.005 0.070
Total effects
HSPS-FR→ADS-9 0.109 0.027 4.083 <0.001 0.057 0.162
Path coefficients
RSES→ADS-9 −0.266 0.108 −2.456 0.014 −0.479 −0.054
HSPS-FR→ADS-9 0.072 0.030 2.393 0.017 0.013 0.131
HSPS-FR→RSES −0.140 0.024 −5.837 < 0.001 −0.187 −0.093
Abbreviations: ADS-9: Affective dependency scale; HSPS-FR: Highly sensitive person scale in French; RSES: Rosenberg self-esteem scale.

influence of high sensitivity on the three diagnostic criteria in the literature, as other studies found no significant
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developed by Sirvent-Ruiz in the clinical approach of gender differences in SPS. Although no studies suggested
affective dependence: addictive criteria (extreme affective a higher prevalence in men, this could be attributed to
need, emotional emptiness, and intense desire), attachment gender stereotypes that often associate sensitivity more
criteria (pathological relationship, impairment of autonomy, with women. In the case of self-esteem, women reported
and pathological attachment), and cognitive-affective lower scores than men. Several explanations have been
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criteria (negative feelings, denial, and self-deception). 26 proposed for this gender difference in self-esteem. For
example, men and women do not have the same presumed
Our second hypothesis examined the influence of roles in society, and self-esteem is presented in society as
gender on the scores of the different scales. This was a predominantly masculine characteristic. Furthermore,
evident for SPS and self-esteem. In the case of SPS, peer interactions and socialization reinforce gender
women reported higher scores than men. Our results stereotypes and create gender differences in self-esteem.
aligned with findings by Engel-Yeger, in which females However, the literature on this topic is inconsistent.
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aged 11 – 17 were more sensitive than males of the same In this study, we did not find significant effects for age
age. However, these results are not universally supported and level of education, probably due to the young age of

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 96 doi: 10.36922/JCBP025070011