Page 98 - JCBP-3-3

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

2.2. Participants 2.3.3. Affective dependence

The study involved 100 adolescents and young adults. The Affective dependence was measured using the affective
cohort consisted of 53% females and 47% males; 16% are in dependency scale (ADS-9). The ADS-9 is a nine-item self-
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middle school and 87% in high school. The mean age was report questionnaire that measures affective dependence
16.16 years (standard deviation [SD] = 1.22), and ages ranged according to two criteria: craving and submission.
from 15 to 20 years. Regarding their relationship experience, Responses are scored on a five-point Likert scale ranging
18% were currently in a relationship, 59% had been in a from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The higher
relationship, and 41% had never been in a relationship. the final score, the greater the emotional dependence of
the subject. This scale has very satisfactory psychometric
2.3. Measures properties, with conceptual and clinical validity, as
The questionnaire consisted of three validated scales well as configurational, metric, and scalar invariance
(presented below) along with two questions designed to in different sample groups (clinical, comparison, and
categorize participants based on their relationship status: general population). The reliability measured reached
whether they were currently in a relationship or had at satisfactory levels both for the total scale (clinical = 0.892,
least been in one in the past. The questions were as follows: comparison = 0.880, general population = 0.867) and for
(i) “Have you ever been in a relationship?” (Yes/No) each of the factors.
and (ii) “Are you currently in a relationship?” (Yes/No),
followed by instructions. Participants who answered “No” 2.4. Statistical analysis
to both questions were instructed to answer as though they The data were analyzed using Jeffreys’s Amazing Statistics
were invested in a hypothetical romantic relationship to Program version 0.19.3. The internal reliability of the scales
complete the scale. Given that the questions specifically was measured using Cronbach’s alpha (α). Values are given
addressed couple relationships, it was important to for each scale (HSPS-FR: α = 0.91, RSES: α = 0.89, and
distinguish responses based on these criteria. In addition, ADS-9: α = 0.87). Descriptive analyses are presented with
three sociodemographic questions were asked (gender, mean and SD for HSPS-FR and median and interquartile
age, and education level). range (IQR) for RSES and ADS-9. Mann–Whitney tests,
Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Spearman’s correlations were
2.3.1. SPS conducted. In addition, linear regressions and mediation
The French version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale analyses were also performed. Statistical significance was
in French (HSPS-FR), adapted from Aron and Aron, determined at p =0.05.
1
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was used to assess sensitivity. It consisted of 27 items that
measure individuals’ cognitive and emotional responses to 3. Results
various environmental stimuli. Responses are scored on a 3.1. Descriptive results
seven-point Likert scale. We used the model highlighted in
the French adaptation, which proposes four dimensions: (i) The minimum and maximum SPS scores were 57 and 182,
ease of excitation, (ii) low sensory threshold, (iii) aesthetic respectively, with a mean score of 112.050 (SD = 25.592).
sensitivity (AES), and (iv) controlled harm avoidance From a categorical perspective based on the classification
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(CHA). of Lionetti et al., 53% of participants had an overall score
strictly below 113, which corresponded to a low level of SPS
2.3.2. Self-esteem (low-SPS). In comparison, 30% of participants had a score
We used the French version of the Rosenberg self- between 113 and 137, corresponding to a moderate level of
esteem scale (RSES). The RSES is a 10-item self-report SPS (moderate-SPS), and 17% of participants had a score
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questionnaire that measures self-esteem according to two strictly above 137, corresponding to a high level of SPS
criteria, each divided into five items: self-competence (high-SPS). In the sample, the minimum self-esteem score
(the first five items) and self-liking (the last five items). was 10, and the maximum was 40, with a mean score of
28.530 (SD = 7.107). The minimum and maximum scores
Responses are scored on a four-point Likert scale ranging for affective dependence were nine and 45, respectively,
from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). The final
score is obtained by summing the responses to each item. with a mean score of 20.750 (SD = 7.402).
The highest level of self-esteem is 40, and the lowest is 10. The Shapiro–Wilk analyses showed that the data
The French version of the RSES has an acceptable level of for RSES (W = 0.965, p=0.009) and ADS-9 (W = 0.957,
internal consistency, as well as psychometric properties, p=0.003) do not follow a normal distribution, while the
with a very adequate test-retest correlation (r = 0.84), data for HSPS-FR follows a normal distribution (W = 0.993,
equivalent to that of the English version. p=0.895). Means and SDs for the HSPS-FR and medians

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 92 doi: 10.36922/JCBP025070011