Highly sensitive persons' responses to acute and post-earthquake stress: Exploratory insights into genetic moderation

Individuals with high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) are susceptible to stressful environments. While the relationship between SPS and stress has theoretical and clinical importance, most evidence comes from cross-sectional studies, with limited experimental or disaster-related evidence. To address this issue and investigate potential biological buffers, we conducted two studies.

Study 1 measured psychological (perceived stress) and physiological (salivary cortisol, heart rate) responses to experimentally induced acute stress in 121 male undergraduates. Study 2 employed a prospective design with 99 undergraduates, measuring perceived stress at baseline and after exposure to an earthquake 6 months later. Both studies assessed SPS and genotyped genetic variants associated with stress resilience: the catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) rs4680 and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) rs2254298 polymorphisms.

Overall, SPS was associated with increased cortisol responses to acute stress and heightened post-earthquake stress levels. However, these amplified stress responses were attenuated in individuals carrying either the COMT GA/AA genotype or the OXTR GG genotype.

These findings highlight the vulnerability of highly sensitive persons to stress, while suggesting potential genetic markers of buffering effects. As a proof of concept, this study provides initial mechanistic clues for future large-scale validation using polygenic approaches.