Development of Japanese version of the 19-item Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS-J19)

Abstract

The present study developed a Japanese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) which was first devised by Aron and Aron (1997). The basis of the scale was to measure individual differences in sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS). In Study 1, the author identified 27 items of Japanese version (HSPS-J) after repeated bilateral translations and data collected from 324 college students exhibiting sufficient reliability of the scale. In Study 2, 369 undergraduates answered HSPS-J and other questionnaires to measure personality dimensions. 19 items remained after excluding the items with low factor loading scores. Factor analysis demonstrated 19 items of HSPS-J (HSPS-J19) having a three-factored structure of Low Sensory Threshold, Ease of Excitation, and Aesthetic Sensitivity. Adequate internal consistency was demonstrated by Cronbach's alpha, and its validity was also shown in terms of the relationship with personality dimensions of Neuroticism and Introversion.