Abstract
Purpose Previous research has provided limited evidence on whether and how demographic factors associate with sensory processing patterns (SPP) in adults. This paper aims to examine relationships between SPPs and sociodemographic factors of age, sex, education and ethnicity in healthy adults. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 71 adult participants was recruited from the community, using convenience sampling. Each participant completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales – short version (DASS-21). Demographic information on age, sex, education and ethnicity was collected. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings SPPs, as measured by the AASP, were significantly correlated to demographic factors of age and education after controlling for emotional distress using the DASS-21. A statistically significant multivariate effect was found across the four dependent variables (low registration, seeking, sensitivity and avoiding) for the age category, F = 6.922, p = 0.009, ηp2 = 0.145, in the presence of a covariate DASS. The education category showed significance only in the seeking domain (p = 0.008, ηp2 = 0.10) after controlling for DASS. There was no significant correlation between SPPs and gender or ethnicity. Results also indicated that mean scores of participants in this study were “similar to most people” as standardised in the AASP. Research limitations/implications This was a cross-sectional study with limitations including that the study used a relatively small sample and was based on self-reported healthy participants. Practical implications SPPs may correlate with healthy adults’ age and to a lesser extent education. This suggests that it might be helpful to consider such demographic factors when interpreting SPPs in clinical populations, although further research in larger samples is needed to reach firmer conclusions about possible implications of demographic variables. Originality/value The findings in this paper add to the growing evidence that suggest that SPPs vary with sociodemographic factors.
Highlights
Sensory processing is a concept that summates the human being’s ability to receive, organise and use sensory information in everyday occupations
Chi-square tests showed no association of age group with either gender or ethnicity
This study explored the relationship between sensory processing patterns (SPP) and demographic factors in a sample of the general population living in South-eastern Queensland, Australia after controlling for emotional distress levels using the DASS
Summary
Sensory processing is a concept that summates the human being’s ability to receive, organise and use sensory information in everyday occupations. Some authors have referred to this ability as being an essential component of preparation for use of sensory information in everyday life (Ayres, 2005; Miller and Lane, 2000). Sensory processing and behavioural patterns have been studied in clinical populations, primarily with children (Blanche et al, 2014; Koenig and Rudney, 2010). Sensory processing patterns (SPPs) in adults and their associations with demographic factors and behavioural patterns are less understood. The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) is a 60-item, standardised self-report questionnaire for people aged 11 years and over (Brown et al, 2001). The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of SPPs with age, sex, education and ethnicity in healthy adults. Increased understanding of how to interpret individuals’ SPPs is necessary for intervention planning when addressing what an individual wants to do, needs to do or is expected to do
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