Research on How Sensory Sensitivity and Parent Relationships Affect Children’s Emotions

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology looked at how being highly sensitive to the world, known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) and children’s relationships with their parents affect how well they manage their emotions.

The results showed that SPS alone did not directly affect how well children manage their emotions. Instead, how sensitive children are to their surroundings combined with the quality of their relationships with their parents played a bigger role in determining their ability to regulate emotions.

Highly sensitive children had more difficulty managing their emotions if they felt their relationship with their mother lacked warmth and care. However, when they had a supportive and empathetic relationship with their mother, they were better at managing emotions than children who were less sensitive. It’s a phenomenon described as “for better and for worse.”

Understanding the Research

This study is important for parents because it shows how much their child’s emotional growth depends on strong attachments.

The study included 118 Italian children, with an average age of 6.5, and their mothers. The children took part in play sessions at school, where researchers used a doll-play activity to assess their attachment. Mothers filled out surveys about their child’s sensory sensitivity (SPS) and emotion regulation abilities.

Researchers hypothesized that high SPS children would have difficulty regulating their emotions if they had poor attachment with their caregivers. On the other hand, they thought that children with high SPS would be better at managing their emotions if they had warm and supportive attachments.

Here is a breakdown of the study’s results:

• Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) did not seem to affect children’s ability to manage their emotions.
• Children who felt their mother was warm and responsive did better at managing their emotions.
• When considering both SPS and attachment quality together, they were more strongly linked to emotion regulation than when looking at each factor separately.

Overall, children with higher SPS are more affected by how warm and responsive their mother is. They do better in loving, caring environments but have more difficulty in cold, unresponsive ones.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

Given the findings from the study, how can we focus on creating a nurturing environment for our children?

Provide a predictable environment for your child

A predictable environment for your child means having a steady routine (like mealtimes and bedtimes). It also means your child knows what to expect in different situations, like how to deal with stress and disappointment.

For example, if your child knows they always have a snack after school and go to bed at 8:00 p.m., this routine makes them feel safe. Also, if they know they can go to their room to calm down when upset, they can handle their emotions better.

Give them a safe space for their feelings

As kids grow, they get better at handling big emotions, but they still need our support. 

Let your child know that it’s okay to feel angry, sad, or frustrated. Saying things like “I see you’re upset, it's okay to feel that way” helps them understand that emotions are not something to be ashamed of. Be available to talk about their feelings when they’re ready, but don’t pressure them.

Here’s a pro tip: Teach them these 101 child-friendly calming strategies and coping skills (from A-Z)!

Model calmness in different situations

Our kids often look to us for cues on how they respond to situations. If you’re able to remain calm even in stressful moments, it sends the message that challenges in life can be handled thoughtfully — rather than with emotional reactions.

When disagreements arise, keep your voice steady and avoid shouting. If plans change unexpectedly (like a delayed appointment or something breaking), respond with flexibility.

When you make a mistake, model self-compassion. You can say, “I made a mistake, but that’s okay. I’ll fix it and learn from it.”

The researchers also suggest that future studies should use different methods, like observing children and getting reports from teachers to better understand how their environment affects their emotions and development.

Check out our Feelings Worksheets and Coping Skills Worksheets to support your child’s emotions every step of the way!