Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire (SPSQ)
The Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire (SPSQ) is a short questionnaire with 16 items capturing the overall level of sensitivity. The items assess two areas of high sensitivity, and it is thus divided into two subscales: the Sensory sensitivity subscale, which assesses the sensitivity of sensory processing, and the Other sensitivity subscale, which captures sensitivity to emotions and various life experiences. Items are not phrased as statements, but mostly as single words covering key areas of high sensitivity. The questionnaire can be used as a whole or only its Sensory Sensitivity subscale.
Length of filling
Filling out the entire questionnaire will take approximately 2 minutes.
Individualized feedback for the respondent
After filling out the entire questionnaire, the subject learns the degree of his sensitivity.
Keywords
Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire, SPSQ, sensitivity, sensitivity, sensory sensitivity, other sensitivity
Scoring and interpretation
The total score is the average of all item scores. It therefore ranges between 0-10, with a higher score indicating a higher degree of sensitivity.
Response scale
Subjects responded on a 0-10 scale with the following key cues: “0 = I am not at all sensitive to them compared to others”; “5 = about as sensitive as the people around me”; and “10 = much more sensitive than the people around me”.
References
Malinakova, K., Novak, L., Trnka, R., & Tavel, P. (2021). Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire: A Psychometric Evaluation and Associations with Experiencing the COVID-19 Pandemic. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(24), 12962. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182412962