HSPs experience more work stress than others, study says

On-the-job agita is unavoidable, but a new study suggests that 26% of the adult population could be just a bit more stress-prone at work than others.

Researchers at Osaka University found that Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) are “more susceptible” to stress and may be experiencing it at higher levels than their colleagues.

They said this remained true even when accounting for people who screwed optimistic versus pessimistic.

HSPs have something called sensory processing sensitivity, or SPS, which means they have both higher emotional sensitivity and higher reactivity to internal and external stimuli like pain, light and noise.

Psychologist Elaine Aron, who coined the term, explained that HSPs are often “easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input” like bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens; are very sensitive to pain; feel uncomfortable with loud noises; and startle easily.

They also often feel the need to avoid violent media, become easily affected by other people’s moods, have a “complex inner life,” and are “deeply moved by the arts or music.”

All of that, according to a new study published in the Japanese Journal of Applied Psychology, can make the workplace a more stressful environment.

Analyzing the responses of 270 Japanese workers, they found a correlation between HSPs and higher stress perception. The trait was also linked to a higher sense of alienation.

“Our study found that HSPs in the workplace tend to feel more stress and approximately 26% of working adults could be classified as HSPs,” lead author Tomohiro Ioku said. “This is surprising because it suggests a substantial portion of the workforce might be experiencing higher levels of stress.”

But there is a plus side: They also found that being an HSP was linked to having more empathy.

“Our findings indicate that while HSPs are more susceptible to stress, their high levels of empathy can be a valuable asset to organizations, particularly in roles that require strong interpersonal skills,” senior author Eiichiro Watamura added.

“By understanding the unique traits of HSPs, industrial organizations can develop more inclusive and supportive environments,” says Ioku. “This could improve employee retention and overall workplace well-being.”