Sensory processing sensitivity and culturally modified resilience education: Differential susceptibility in Japanese adolescents.

Chieko Kibe,Mari Hirano,Miki Suzuki,Ilona Boniwell,Kenji Hashimoto

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239002

Chieko Kibe, Mari Hirano + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239002

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Abstract

This study investigated the efficacy of a culturally modified resilience education program on Japanese adolescents’ well-being from a differential susceptibility perspective. First, a culturally modified resilience education intervention was developed by employing the SPARK resilience program and implemented with 407 Japanese high school students in Tokyo (age = 15–16, M = 192, F = 215). To test intervention efficacy, students’ level of resilience, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and depression were measured pre-, post-, and three months after intervention. Additionally, sensory processing sensitivity, using the Japanese version of the Highly Sensitive Child Scale for Adolescence, was measured as an index of individual sensitivity. Analysis of variance was used to examine the baseline differences and interaction effects of students’ gender and level of sensory processing sensitivity. Latent growth curve models were used to assess the overall effects of the intervention and change over time. Results indicated that the intervention was effective in enhancing students’ overall self-efficacy; and that highly sensitive students, who scored significantly lower in well-being than their counterparts at baseline, responded more positively to the intervention, and had a greater reduction in depression and promotion of self-esteem. These findings provided unique evidence in line with the differential susceptibility perspective and useful implications to develop personalized treatment interventions for adolescents in different cultural contexts.

Highlights

Mental health problems in the youth population are prevalent across the globe
This study aims to address two main issues regarding the implementation of preventative intervention within a Japanese context: 1) the intervention program should be culturally sensitive, and modifications must be made when applying it to Japanese adolescents; 2) intervention outcomes should be adequately estimated, as it is likely that students’ gender and susceptibility would moderate intervention outcomes
A higher level of sensitivity showed a negative association with self-esteem and self-efficacy and a positive association with depression

Summary

Introduction

Mental health problems in the youth population are prevalent across the globe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the second-leading cause of illness and disability among young people aged 15–19 years [1]. The symptoms of depression range from cognitive, emotional, motivational, and physical aspects [2]; it interferes with the normal. In Japan, one study found that 7.8% of primary school students and 22.8% of secondary school students showed high levels of depressive symptoms [6]. While self-efficacy refers to individuals’ beliefs in their own effectiveness that is associated with motivation [11], self-esteem represents individuals’ sense of self-worth [12]. Depressed individuals show symptoms of loss of interest and pleasure in almost all activities and experience feelings of worthlessness with excessive self-blame [2], which imply significant decline in self-efficacy as well as damaged self-esteem. Efforts to cultivate and enhance positive selfregard (i.e., self-efficacy, self-esteem) are crucial in order to prevent undesirable consequences of mental health problems in Japanese adolescents

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