Summary of the 4th International Conference on Sensitivity Research

From June 19–20 2026, the historic University of Pavia in Italy hosted the 4th International Conference on Sensitivity Research. The event was organised by leading names in the field – Francesca Lionetti, Michael Pluess and Corina Greven – together with a local team comprising Alessandra Peluzzi, Vita Keil, Antonia Thrams, and Gabriela Bodale.

More than 270 people from across the world participated in person or online, including researchers, students, psychologists, educators and other professionals brought together by their shared interest in Environmental Sensitivity, a trait that makes people more vulnerable to stressful and overwhelming experiences, but also more responsive to good relationships, positive environments, and supportive interventions.

The conference provided an opportunity to present recent findings, discuss emerging questions and strengthen international collaborations within this growing field, in other words, a positive environment in which to flourish.

Sensitivity and mental health

The first day opened with a keynote lecture by Prof Michael Pluess on sensitivity and mental health. A central message was that sensitivity is not simply a vulnerability: its effects depend on the interaction between individual characteristics and the quality of the surrounding environment. Thus, in positive environments it can be a strength.

Subsequent presentations further explored this interaction. How does genetic sensitivity shape responses to childhood psychosocial experiences? How can mindfulness-based interventions support highly sensitive individuals? These were among the topics discussed with the contribution of Prof Neus Vidal Barrantes, and Dr MacKenzie Trupp. Building upon these insights, Dr Jimmy Bordarie, Prof Véronique De Gucht, Dr Kato Colombet, and Jessica Twomey shifted the focus to empirical findings on sensitivity, work adjustment, and future planning.

While each question yielded a distinct answer, a common thread emerged: it is crucial to identify the conditions under which sensitivity may increase the risk for emotional difficulties, as well as those under which it can promote well-being, meaning-making, and positive development.

First symposium: From infancy to adulthood

The invited symposium chaired by Prof Francesca Lionetti focused on Environmental Sensitivity across development. Presentations examined how sensitivity is observed in infants, assessed in preschoolers, and how it evolves during early adolescence. Further research highlighted how emotional responsiveness, parent–child co-regulation, and key psychological resources can protect more sensitive young people from internalising problems.

Taken together, these studies show why a developmental approach is essential: sensitivity may have early roots, but its expression evolves alongside children as they acquire new cognitive, emotional, and self-regulatory abilities and navigate different family, school, and social environments.

Second symposium: Self-regulation and neurodevelopment

Chaired by Prof Corina Greven, this invited symposium examined sensitivity in relation to self-regulatory processes, ADHD and autism. Shared characteristics and differences based on available empirical evidence were extensively discussed. Furthermore, self-regulation was highlighted as a key mechanism that enables sensitive individuals to effectively manage daily emotional and sensory stimulation.

By clarifying the boundaries between sensitivity and these neurodevelopmental conditions, the symposium helped to prevent confusion and promote more tailored support. However, it also suggested that much still needs to be done to deepen our evidence-based understanding.

Talks and poster session: Exploring the scope of the field

Individual talks and posters further extended the discussion to many crucial areas – from sensory overload to working conditions, from motivation to autobiographical memory and future thinking – reflecting the current diversity of the field.

A major focus was the measurement of sensitivity, driven by the recent introduction of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale Revised (HSP-R), a refined and less biased version of the well-known original tool. Researchers adapted and validated the scale across different countries, cultures, and age groups. However, self-reported measures weren’t the only focus, as a growing number of studies investigated physiological and neural markers.

Combining questionnaires with more objective measures marks a crucial milestone for the field. By bridging these two approaches, scientists can gain a more accurate understanding of how sensitivity unfolds in everyday life.

From research to psychological practice

The second day was devoted to the integration of the scientific evidence discussed during the conference with the experiences and practical needs of professionals. Led by Dr Elena Lupo, an applied workshop focused on supporting highly sensitive people in therapy and counselling.

Participants discussed how to differentiate sensitivity from mental health conditions, how to navigate individual differences in response to treatment and how to provide understanding without presenting sensitivity as a weakness or a special ability.

Implications for the public

The message of the 4^th International Conference on Sensitivity Research is clear: sensitivity is neither a liability nor an advantage, it is simply a human reality. Recognising individual differences in sensitivity to the environment can help families, schools, workplaces and clinical services create settings that reduce unnecessary overstimulation and support emotional regulation and participation.

At the same time, sensitivity should not be used as a rigid label. Future research needs to clarify how it develops, how it can best be measured and how it influences people’s responses to environmental influences.

As sensitivity research is moving towards a more developmental, interdisciplinary and applied phase, we encourage our readers to explore the details of the contributions in the conference Book of Abstracts and join us at the next conference!