Šalčiūnaitė-Nikonovė, Laura

Impaired mentalizing abilities are found among persons with chronic pain, yet it is still unknown why. The current study focuses on mentalizing abilities and how these could be affected by different pain factors, alexithymia traits, and other aspects of psychological functioning (depression, anxiety, attention) in persons experiencing chronic pain.

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a personality trait characterized by heightened responsiveness to environmental stimuli, often linked to introversion and emotional reactivity. This study evaluated the factorial structure of the Lithuanian version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) and its associations with anxiety, depression, and personality traits. A cross-sectional survey of 1130 Lithuanian employees was conducted. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a three-factor model: Low Sensory Threshold and Withdrawal, Ease of Excitation, and Aesthetic Sensitivity. HSPS scores were negatively correlated with Extraversion and Emotional Stability and positively associated with anxiety and depression symptoms. The Lithuanian HSPS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing SPS in adults.

Introduction. Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a genetic human characteristic marked by heightened emotional, social, and physical responsiveness to internal and external stimuli. While SPS has gained research attention as an individual difference in sensitivity, its relationship with broader personality dimensions, such as the Big Five traits, remains unclear. This study investigates SPS associations with the Big Five to clarify its role in personality structure. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 441 adult participants (67.6% women; M age = 45.5). SPS was measured using the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), while personality traits were assessed with the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). A two-dimensional analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between two variables. Results. Women exhibited significantly higher SPS than men (M = 115.72 and M = 100.92; p < 0.001). Among the Big Five traits, conscientiousness was the most pronounced (M = 5.63, SD = 1.22), while extraversion was the least expressed (M = 3.99, SD = 1.36). The data analysis revealed a weak but significant negative correlation between higher Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) and lower emotional stability (ρ = –0.388, p < 0.001). Additionally, weak but significant negative correlations were found between SPS and extraversion (ρ = –0.159, p = 0.002) and conscientiousness (ρ = –0.159, p = 0.025). Conclusions. Our study results demonstrated that higher SPS was correlated with lower emotional stability, lower extraversion, and higher conscientiousness. The weak but significant correlations suggest that SPS shares similarities with these personality traits, likely due to its nature as an emotionally reactive and more environmentally sensitive characteristic. However, the weak strength of these correlations suggests that SPS and the Big Five traits are rather distinct constructs. Recognizing personality structure could aid in developing individualized interventions for people with heightened sensitivity. Future research should explore the causal mechanisms underlying these relationships, investigate potential moderating factors.

Įvadas: Sensorinio apdorojimo jautrumas (SAJ) –asmenybės bruožas, susijęs su gilesniu sensorinės informacijos apdorojimu, didesniu emociniu reaktyvumu ir empatija. Empiriniai tyrimai rodo, kad vaikystės patirtys gali būti susijusios su SAJ, tačiau trūksta tyrimų, nagrinėjančių, kokios konkrečios patirtys lemia šią sąsają. Šiame pranešime analizuojamos SAJ ir skirtingų vaikystėje patirto smurto formų sąsajos. Metodika: Tiriamųjų imtį sudarė 297 tiriamųjų, iš kurių 44,1 proc. buvo vyrai ir 55,2 proc. moterys. Amžius svyravo nuo 19 iki 77 metų (M (SN) = 43,5 (14,8)). Tyrimas buvo atliktas atsitiktinės atrankos būdu Kauno miesto ir rajono įmonėse bei įstaigose. SAJ buvo vertinamas itin jautraus žmogaus skale (angl. Highly sensitive person scale) (Aron ir Aron, 1997), o vaikystėje patirtas smurtas buvo vertinamas vaikystės patirčių klausimynu VPK-S (Paulaitienė ir Barkauskienė, 2018).Rezultatai: Tiriamųjų SAJ vidurkis buvo 110,5 (SN = 14,8), o aukštu jautrumu (≥130), pagal 75 procentilį, pasižymėjo 25,1 % tiriamųjų. Dažniausiai tiriamieji nurodė patyrę psichologinį smurtą (51,2 proc.) ir emocinę nepriežiūrą (34,7 proc.). Fizinį smurtą patyrė 29,5 proc., fizinę nepriežiūrą –14,8 proc., o seksualinį smurtą –7,7 proc. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė, kad asmenys, kurie vaikystėje patyrė didesnį smurto lygį, taip pat pasižymėjo aukštesniu sensorinio apdorojimo jautrumu (ρ=0,25; p<0,001). Stipriausia SAJ sąsaja pastebėta su emocine nepriežiūra (ρ=0,28; p<0,001). Statistiškai reikšmingos, šiek tiek silpnesnės sąsajos nustatytos ir su psichologiniu smurtu (ρ=0,24; p<0,001) bei fizine nepriežiūra (ρ=0,16; p=0022). Tuo tarpu statistiškai reikšmingas ryšys nebuvo nustatytas tarp SAJ ir fizinio smurto (ρ=0,13; p=0,064) bei seksualinio smurto (nepatyrusių seksualinio smurto Mdn=112; patyrusių Mdn=130; p=0,232).Išvados: Tyrimas atskleidė, kad dažnesni smurtiniai patyrimai vaikystėje buvo susiję su aukštesniu sensorinio apdorojimo jautrumu. Stipriausios sąsajos pastebėtos tarp sensorinio apdorojimo jautrumo ir emocinės nepriežiūros patirtos vaikystėje.

Objective: Migraine-type headaches (MTH) affect over one billion people worldwide each year, particularly the working-age population and women, contributing to 16% of the global neurological disease burden. MTH is characterized by intense, throbbing pain often accompanied by heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli. This sensitivity is not only a symptom of migraines but also part of a broader personality trait known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), which is characterized by deep cognitive processing and strong emotional reactivity. Approximately 15% to 20% of individuals can be defined as highly sensitive persons (HSP) and while SPS can aid in adaptation, it also might play a role in mental and physical disorders. This study investigates the relationship between SPS and the occurrence and severity of migraines.

Participants and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 670 Lithuanian employees drawn from 45 randomly selected companies and institutions (mean age = 43.4 years; 69% female; 64% with a university education). Participants completed a paper-and-pencil survey that included the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), Migraine Screen Questionnaire (MS-Q), Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and general Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) questionnaires. Binomial logistic regression was employed to predict MTH, and mediation analysis was conducted to assess migraine disability, using HSPS as the independent variable (X) along with potential mediators.

Results: Within the total sample, 15% of participants reported experiencing MTH (95% CI: 11.8-17.1%), and 26% were identified as highly sensitive persons (95% CI: 22.6-29.2%). Individuals with MTH were significantly more likely to be highly sensitive compared to those without MTH (41% vs. 23%; p < 0.001), establishing HSP as a significant predictor of migraine (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5-3.7). However, the predictive value of HSP diminished when controlling for female gender (OR = 4.6; 95% CI: 2.0-10.2) and anxiety (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3-3.7). Among migraine sufferers, those with elevated SPS experienced an earlier onset of MTH, increased sensitivity to pain triggers, and more severe and frequent headache episodes, resulting in greater disability (p < 0.05). Moreover, mediation analysis indicated that the relationship between HSPS and migraine disability, as evaluated by the MIDAS score, was fully mediated by the increased number of headache episodes (𝑏 = 0.2907, p = 0.0054), heightened sensitivity to pain triggers (𝑏 = 0.1866, p = 0.0030), and mood disturbances (𝑏 = 0.1527, p = 0.0003), with no significant direct effect observed (p = 0.1287).

Conclusions: This study found that highly sensitive persons were more likely to experience MTH, with earlier onset, increased sensitivity to pain triggers, and more frequent and severe headache episodes, resulting in greater disability. Furthermore, mediation analysis suggested that heightened SPS impacted migraine disability primarily through its effects on mood, pain sensitivity, and the number of pain triggers, rather than directly. These findings highlight the importance of addressing emotional and sensory factors in managing MTH among individuals with high sensory processing sensitivity. As data collection continues, we will update our results to further explore these relationships and their implications for treatment and support.

HBSC (angl. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children; santr. HBSC) - vienas iš pagrindinių paauglių gyvensenos ir sveikatos stebėsenos tyrimų Europoje, atliekamas pagal griežtą, vieningą tarptautinį tyrimo protokolą. Šis tyrimas vykdomas kas ketverius metus Pasaulio sveikatos organizacijos iniciatyva ir apima 50 Europos, Šiaurės Amerikos ir Azijos šalių. Lietuvoje šis tyrimas pradėtas vykdyti 1994 m. ir tęsiamas iki šiol. 2022 m. buvo atliktas aštuntasis tokio tipo tyrimas, leidžiantis įvertinti kelių dešimtmečių tendencijas. Šiame leidinyje pateikiami 2022 m. Lietuvoje atlikto HBSC tyrimo, kurį Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universiteto tyrėjai atliko 124 Lietuvos mokyklose, rezultatai. Leidinyje rodikliai nagrinėjami 1994-2022 m. perspektyvoje, ypatingą dėmesį skiriant pastarųjų metų tendencijoms. Čia taip pat pateikiama demografinių grupių analizė, siekiant išryškinti jaunuolių grupes, kurioms gali būti tikslingiau taikyti į sveikatą ir gerovę orientuotas priemones. Leidinyje pateikiami pagrindiniai Lietuvos moksleivių gyvensenos, sveikatos ir gerovės, rizikingos elgsenos ir socialinės aplinkos rodikliai. Tikimės, kad tyrimo rezultatai pasitarnaus ne tik kaip informacijos šaltinis mokslininkams ir tyrėjams, bet ir pasieks tuos, kurie tiesiogiai dalyvauja palaikant ir gerinant jaunų žmonių sveikatą bei gerovę - nacionalinės ir savivaldybių politikos formuotojams, mokyklų atstovams, asmens ir visuomenės sveikatos specialistams, moksleivių tėvams ir patiems moksleiviams. Ugdyti sveiką ateities kartą yra svarbu jau šiandien, kadangi tai atsilieps ne tik jų, bet ir visos visuomenės sveikatai bei gerovei.

Background: Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a trait reflecting heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli, deep cognitive processing, and strong emotional responses. It is hypothesized that SPS may also influence individuals‘ responses to stress. The aim. To obtaine preliminary data about the relationship between SPS and cognitively enhanced stress responses. Methods: Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, this preliminary study involved 20 participants (9 females; mean age 26 years) recruited through convenience sampling. Each participant completed two experimental sessions, using counterbalanced design, which included a computerized Stroop task conducted under cognitive stress and control conditions. During these sessions, heart rate (HR), subjective stress levels, and task performance metrics (reaction time and error rates) were monitored. SPS was assessed using the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS). Results: The findings revealed statistically significant changes in all stress responses during the stress-inducing condition, including a 4.5% increase in heart rate per minute, a 2-point rise in self-reported stress levels, a 36% reduction in Stroop reaction time, and an increase in errors (p < 0.001). However, no statistically significant relationships were found between HSPS and changes in these stress responses (p > 0.05). Finally, individuals with higher sensory sensitivity made fewer errors during the Stroop task even under stress conditions. Conclusion: SPS was not directly related to physiological or subjective stress indicators; however, higher SPS was associated with better cognitive performance even under stress conditions.

Introduction: Migraine-type headaches (MTH) are often associated with increased sensitivity to various physical stimuli. In this study, we hypothesize that migraine may also be related to Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), an inheritable trait characterized by deep cognitive processing. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 300 Lithuanian employees (mean age 37.3, SD=12.7; 78% female) completed surveys, including the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), Migraine Screen Questionnaire (MS-Q), Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), PHQ-2, GAD-2 questionnaires, and other headache-related factors. Results: 13.3% of participants met MTH criteria (95% CI 9.5-17.3%). MTH participants scored higher on HSP scale (m=126.89 (21.11); 95% CI 119.85-133.93) vs. non-migraineurs ones (m=120.39 (19.21); 95% CI 118.03-122.75), suggesting HSP's significance as a migraine prognostic factor (OR=1.019; p=0.04). However, its predictive value diminishes when controlled by demographic factors (OR=1.08, p=0.083). Among MTH individuals, higher HSP scores correlated with earlier migraine onset (r=-0.644, p<0.001), more frequent pain episodes (r=0.424, p=0.007), increased pain triggers (r=0.525, p=0.001), elevated anxiety (r=0.371; p=0.018), and depression (r=0.317, p=0.047). Additionally, higher HSP levels predicted severe migraine disability (OR=1.04, p=0.014), likely due to heightened sensitivity to pain triggers, as their number was the only significant predictor of disability when included alongside HSPS in the regression model. Conclusions: SPS was significantly associated with migraine manifestation, suggesting that individuals with higher SPS may be predisposed to earlier migraine onset, increased sensitivity to triggers, and more frequent episodes, resulting in greater disability. These findings stem from the pilot study, with ongoing main research expected to expand upon them for presentation at the conference.