Highly sensitive people are at greater risk for numerous mental health conditions. (Photo by fizkes on Shutterstock)
In A Nutshell
About one in three people are “highly sensitive,” meaning they feel sights, sounds, and emotions more deeply than others.
A review of 33 studies with nearly 13,000 people found that higher sensitivity is linked to more symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Researchers say sensitivity is not a disorder, but it may shape how people experience mental health and should be considered more in treatment.
LONDON — Nearly one-third of people possess a personality trait that is linked with depression and anxiety symptoms, yet it’s often overlooked in treatment. A new systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies reveals that “highly sensitive” people tend to show moderate associations with mental health problems.
Researchers analyzed 33 studies involving more than 12,000 people and found consistent positive connections between heightened environmental sensitivity and common mental health disorders. They argue that sensitivity represents a measurable trait that may matter for psychological well-being.
Led by scientists from Queen Mary University of London, the research shows moderate links with depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social phobia. The connection was similar in strength for both depression and anxiety.
Signs You May Be a Highly Sensitive Person
Environmental sensitivity describes people who process sensory information more deeply and react more strongly to their surroundings. These individuals often notice subtle environmental changes, feel overwhelmed in busy environments, and experience intense emotional responses to both positive and negative situations.
This trait exists on a spectrum. About 29% of people show low sensitivity, 40% show medium sensitivity, and 31% display high sensitivity, according to previous research.
Scientists measure this trait using questionnaires that include questions such as “Are you more than others affected by moods of other people?” and “Do you become unpleasantly aroused when a lot is going on around you?”
The concept traces back to Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, who described “innate sensitiveness” in 1913, but systematic research only began in the 1990s. Brain imaging studies have revealed heightened activity in regions associated with empathy, social processing, and reflective thinking among sensitive individuals.
Being highly sensitive could mean you tend to have stronger responses to loud noises or bright lights than most people. (Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels)
High Sensitivity Tied to Anxiety, Depression, and Other Mental Health Problems
The analysis found moderate connections between sensitivity and both depression and anxiety.
Individual studies showed connections ranging from weak to strong, but all studies that measured overall sensitivity found positive links. Results varied across studies, but the general pattern remained: higher sensitivity typically went hand-in-hand with more mental health symptoms.
The review also identified positive associations with obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia, and social phobia, though these relationships varied in strength.
Different aspects of sensitivity showed varying relationships with mental health. The tendency to feel easily overwhelmed and having a low threshold for sensory input showed stronger connections with psychological problems than aesthetic sensitivity, which is the capacity to be deeply moved by art, music, or beauty.
How Healthcare Providers Can Better Help
Currently, most therapists and doctors don’t routinely check for environmental sensitivity, potentially missing an important factor in their patients’ psychological makeup. Since about 31% of the general population show high sensitivity, this trait may also be relevant for many people in clinical settings.
Previous smaller studies have indicated that highly sensitive individuals may respond differently to psychological treatments. Some research shows they may benefit more from certain types of therapy, particularly mindfulness-based approaches that help manage overstimulation and emotional reactions.
As the researchers write: “Better knowledge on the role of individual differences in sensitivity for mental health may not only inform theory but could also have practical implications” for treatment planning and how well interventions work.
What the Research on Highly Sensitive People Can — and Can’t — Tell Us
The analysis has important limitations. Most studies relied on college students, which may not represent the broader population. Most participants were young, educated women, so the results may not apply as well to men and older adults.
Nearly all studies looked at people at one point in time, making it impossible to determine whether sensitivity causes mental health problems or whether having mental health issues makes people more sensitive. Only five studies followed participants over time, and just two examined people actually receiving mental health treatment.
Study authors acknowledge that all studies relied on questionnaires, which can be affected by how people see themselves and want to present themselves.
While this doesn’t prove that sensitivity causes mental health problems, it suggests this personality trait deserves more attention in mental health research and potentially in clinical practice. For people who experience the world more intensely than others, understanding this aspect of their temperament could inform how they approach their mental health care.
Disclaimer: This article is a summary of peer-reviewed scientific research. It is provided for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. If you are experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Paper Summary
Methodology
Researchers searched seven major academic databases for studies published between 1997 and 2024. They included 33 studies with 12,697 participants (62.5% female, average age 25 years) that measured environmental sensitivity using standard questionnaires and assessed mental health through validated surveys. The earliest included study was published in 2000. For the main analysis, they examined 25 studies that specifically measured depression and anxiety.
Results
The analysis showed positive relationships between environmental sensitivity and mental health problems. The main analysis found moderate connections for both depression (r = .36) and anxiety (r = .39). The broader review identified positive relationships with obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, social phobia, agoraphobia, and physical symptoms, with relationship strengths ranging from weak to strong. Different parts of sensitivity showed varying relationships, with “ease of excitation” and “low sensory threshold” more strongly linked to mental health issues than “aesthetic sensitivity.”
Limitations
The study had several important limitations including too many young, educated women in the samples and heavy reliance on college students. Most studies looked at participants at one point in time, preventing determination of cause and effect. Only two studies included people actually receiving mental health treatment rather than general population samples, and five studies were longitudinal. All studies relied on self-report surveys, which can be biased, and most were not preregistered. The research also showed variation between studies, suggesting other factors may influence the relationship between sensitivity and mental health.
Funding and Conflicts
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The paper does not specify funding sources for this review and analysis, though authors work at Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London, Trinity College Dublin, and the University of Surrey.
Publication Details
This research was published online in Clinical Psychological Science on August 15, 2025. The paper was written by Tom Falkenstein, Luke Sartori, Margherita Malanchini, Kristin Hadfield, and Michael Pluess, with Michael Pluess as the main contact. The review was pre-registered and followed PRISMA reporting guidelines..