Author(s): TAKINOSE, A., SHIMIZU, Y., Institution: SEITOKU UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 1240

Introduction
Recently, issues of social maladjustment have become apparent among those with high Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), which is a heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli. For students with high SPS, school is an over-stimulating environment. Particularly, physical education courses in school (PE) and sports club settings often feature environments that trigger discomfort and aversion among individuals with high SPS. However, there is currently no evidence that SPS influences PE participation or involvement in sports among high school students. Therefore, this study developed a psychometric test to measure SPS among high school students in PE and sports settings, and it examined the relationship between SPS and involvement in PE and sports activities.
Methods
The study involved 300 Japanese high school students (mean age = 16.88, SD = 0.886) who voluntarily completed questionnaires comprising items from the Japanese version of the 19-item Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS-J19) and the draft Sports-Highly Sensitive Person Scale (S-HSPS) regarding involvement in PE class and sports activities. Exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and correlation analysis were used to develop the S-HSPS and confirm its reliability and validity. Cluster analysis and independent t-tests were used to categorize participants by SPS levels and to compare group differences.
Results
As a result of the analyses, 41 S-HSPS items were identified within a six-factor structure: visual-auditory-olfactory sensitivity, cooperative behavior difficulties, cutaneous sensitivity, contact aversion, sensitivity to surroundings, and group avoidance. Both adequate reliability and criterion-related validity were confirmed. The HSP group reported significantly lower levels of PE preference, PE participation, sports preference, and sports participation than the non-HSP group.
Discussion
The present study developed a psychometric test with reliability and structural validity to measure the SPS among high school students in PE and sports settings. Students with high SPS reported lower levels of preference for and participation in both PE classes and sports activities. These findings suggest that PE teachers and sports club coaches should consider any factors that may cause HSP students to feel uncomfortable and organize their classes and environments accordingly. The study underscores the need for educational committee boards to create an environment where all students, including HSP students, can safely participate in PE classes.