Sensory Processing Sensitivity, and Not Gender, Drives Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity and Nature

Ecopsychology · 2024 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 293

In a gender-matched cross-sectional study (n=450), women showed higher EHS prevalence and higher scores on several EHS-related measures, as well as higher SPS and CNS scores. Gender differences in EHS-related scales disappeared after adjusting for SPS, and SE…

Study snapshot

PublicationEcopsychology · 2024

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Sensory Processing Sensitivity, and Not Gender, Drives Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity and Nature Connection Watten RG, Volden F, Visnes H. Sensory Processing Sensitivity, and Not Gender, Drives Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity and Nature Connection. Ecopsychology. Nov 28, 2024. doi: 10.1089/eco.2024.0027 Abstract Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is a biomedical condition associated with exposure to man-made radio-frequency electromagnetic fields. Common sources are devices like mobile phones, wireless networks, base stations, computers, TVs, and more. Identifying individuals at risk of developing EHS is important. Those with heightened sensory processing sensitivity (SPS; the ability to perceive, process, and react to environmental stimuli, approximately 25% to 30% of the population) are of special interest. SPS could also be associated with connectedness to nature (CNS) and EHS. In the current gender- matched cross-sectional study (n = 450; 225 men and 225 women) we assessed gender differences in environmental sensitivity assessed as SPS, EHS, and CNS. Women had higher general EHS prevalence than men (13.3% vs. 5.3%), higher mean values on perceived sensitivity for 5 out of 9 categories of electromagnetic equipment (computers, electrical appliances, fluorescent lighting, mobile phones, and television) and they had higher scores on the three EHS Scales EHS General, EHS Scale, and EHS Index, in addition to higher SPS and CNS scores. The gender differences vanished when adjusting for SPS in the multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) analyses, suggesting that the differences in these scales were associated with SPS. The statistical equation modeling (SEM) results showed a significant positive direct effect of SPS on CNS, and a significant indirect effect mediated by EHS. The present study provides the first empirical evidence that highly sensitive individuals are capable of perceiving electromagnetic radiation. The results indicate that perceived EHS and CNS are driven by SPS and not by gender. liebertpub.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecross_sectional

Effect directionunclear

PopulationNot supplied

Sample size450

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) prevalence
perceived sensitivity to electromagnetic equipment categories
EHS General scale
EHS Scale
EHS Index
sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)
connectedness to nature (CNS)

Limitations

Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)
Exposure appears to be self-reported/perceived sensitivity rather than measured RF-EMF exposure levels
Frequency, SAR, and exposure duration not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone, wireless networks, base stations, computers, TVs, electrical appliances, fluorescent lighting",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 450,
  "outcomes": [
    "electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) prevalence",
    "perceived sensitivity to electromagnetic equipment categories",
    "EHS General scale",
    "EHS Scale",
    "EHS Index",
    "sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)",
    "connectedness to nature (CNS)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a gender-matched cross-sectional study (n=450), women showed higher EHS prevalence and higher scores on several EHS-related measures, as well as higher SPS and CNS scores. Gender differences in EHS-related scales disappeared after adjusting for SPS, and SEM indicated a significant positive direct effect of SPS on CNS with a significant indirect effect mediated by EHS.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)",
    "Exposure appears to be self-reported/perceived sensitivity rather than measured RF-EMF exposure levels",
    "Frequency, SAR, and exposure duration not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
    "EHS",
    "radio-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "sensory processing sensitivity",
    "SPS",
    "connectedness to nature",
    "CNS",
    "gender",
    "MANOVA",
    "structural equation modeling",
    "SEM"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "electromagnetic-hypersensitivity",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Study focuses on EHS prevalence and EHS scales in relation to sensory processing sensitivity."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1089/eco.2024.0027
PubMed: Not supplied

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