Depression significantly moderates the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and sleep quality, exacerbating sleep disturbances among highly sensitive individuals with severe depressive symptoms.
The high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) group experienced significantly more sleep disturbances compared to lower sensitivity groups.
The high sensory processing sensitivity group experienced more severe symptoms of depression compared to lower sensitivity groups.
Depression significantly moderated the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and sleep quality.
Gender, age, and monthly income influenced the relationship between SPS, depression, and sleep quality.
The link between sensory processing sensitivity and sleep quality had not been previously explored in the literature.
This research suggests that people who are highly sensitive to sensory and emotional stimuli — a trait known as sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) or 'high sensitivity' — tend to have worse sleep quality and more severe depressive symptoms compared to people who are less sensitive. The study surveyed 1,122 people in Spain and found these differences even after accounting for factors like gender, age, and income. Importantly, women made up about three-quarters of the sample, which is consistent with how high sensitivity is distributed in the general population. A key new finding is that depression appears to act as a 'moderator' in the relationship between high sensitivity and poor sleep — meaning that when a highly sensitive person also experiences significant depression, their sleep problems are even worse than what either high sensitivity or depression alone would predict. This suggests the combination of these two factors compounds sleep difficulties in a meaningful way. This research matters because it points to a specific subgroup — highly sensitive individuals who also struggle with depression — who may be at particular risk for sleep problems. Understanding these relationships could help inform more targeted mental health support, since addressing depressive symptoms in highly sensitive people might also help improve their sleep. The study was conducted online with a predominantly young, female, Spanish sample, so future research would be needed to confirm these patterns in more diverse populations.
Costa-López B, Ruiz-Robledillo N, Moreno O, Muñoz G, Albaladejo-Blázquez N, Ferrer-Cascales R. (2026). Depression as a Risk Moderator Factor for Sleep Quality in Highly Sensitive People.. The Spanish journal of psychology. https://doi.org/10.1017/SJP.2026.10020