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Psychometric properties of the Highly Sensitive Child scale across developmental stage, gender and country

Authors :
Sofie Weyn
Wim Van Den Noortgate
Karine Verschueren
Luc Goossens
Margot Bastin
Michael Pluess
Patricia Bijttebier
Filip De Fruyt
Elke Van Hoof
Corina U. Greven
Francesca Lionetti
Karla Van Leeuwen
Hilde Colpin
Psychology
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Springer, 2021.

Abstract

Adolescents differ in their degree of Environmental Sensitivity, that is, the ability to perceive and process information about their environment. The present study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Highly Sensitive Child scale (HSC), a self-report measure of Environmental Sensitivity, in two Belgian and UK samples with a total of 3056 adolescents. First, the factor structure, internal consistency, dimensionality, and construct validity of the HSC scale were examined. Second, measurement invariance of the HSC scale across developmental stage, gender, and country was tested. Results supported a bifactor model with a general sensitivity factor and three group factors: Ease of Excitation (EOE), Low Sensory Threshold (LST), and Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES). Cronbach’s alpha and McDonalds’s (hierarchical) omega indicated that the HSC scale is a reliable measure of Environmental Sensitivity, except for AES. Furthermore, AES was associated with different personality traits than EOE and LST. Second, the HSC scale was partially measurement invariant across developmental stage, gender, and country. The results provide important insights in the psychometrics of a first measurement of Environmental Sensitivity in early to late adolescents. Implications for further research are discussed. ispartof: Current Psychology vol:40 issue:7 pages:3309-3325 status: published

Details

Language :
English
Database :
OpenAIRE
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....80d55e0495c01d2c43468194fb0c6106
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00254-5