Adapting the Highly Sensitive Child Scale-21 item: a psychometric evaluation in a mainland China sample

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) pertains to individual differences in responsiveness to environmental stimuli. The Highly Sensitive Child Scale-21 item (HSC-21) is a reliable and validated self-report measure to assess sensory processing sensitivity for children and adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the HSC-21 in a mainland China. The sample comprised 1372 middle school students (48% males,52% females) from mainland China, with a mean age of 13.39 years (SD = 3.38). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a five-factor solution among Chinese youth. Confirmatory factor analysis provided robust support for the multidimensional nature of the HSC-21. Moreover, the scale demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency. Furthermore, the scale demonstrated meaningful correlations with several criterion measures, including the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory brief version (CBF-PI-B). Finally, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated measurement equivalence across sexes. In summary, these findings preliminary support for the use of the Chinese version of the HSC-21 with the Chinese adolescents.