Increasing job satisfaction by considering sensory processing sensitivity in modern working environments
- Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is characterized by a higher sensitivity to environmental stimuli, both positive and negative. Recent studies have shown two construct facets of SPS, vantage sensitivity (represented by aesthetic sensitivity) and vulnerable sensitivity (which consists of low sensory threshold and ease of excitation) (Pluess & Belsky, 2013), Wyrsch, 2020). Since the seminal publication by Aron and Aron (1997), most empirical studies focused on SPS characteristics in general and especially on the negative consequences of SPS (Greven et al., 2019). However, only a few studies focused on SPS in the organizational context and also targeted the positive effects of SPS. Based on the Job Characteristic model by Hackman and Oldham (1976), we addressed this research gap by investigating the moderating effects of SPS on associations between the job characteristics autonomy and task variety and job satisfaction as an organizational outcome variable. We assumed a positive correlation between job characteristics and job satisfaction and a positive moderating effect of SPS. The survey study results (N = 719) confirm that SPS positively moderates the relationship between autonomy and job satisfaction. However, we also found negative relationships between vulnerable sensitivity and job satisfaction. Regarding task variety, we only found moderating effects for vantage sensitivity. Our findings demonstrate that employees' satisfaction and organizational outcomes could be optimized if modern working environments consider personality traits such as the level of SPS within the workplace.