[01] Richards Ebireonwu Ebeh, Department of Psychology, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. [02] Ngozi Sydney-Agbor, Department of Psychology, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. [03] Leonard Onwukwe, Department of Psychology, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. [04] Pamela Amaka Ogbaegbe, Department of Psychology, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

This study investigated childhood stressful experiences and the big five personality dimensions as predictors of high sensitivity in people. Two hundred young adults, comprising of a hundred males and a hundred females with ages ranging between 15 to 25 years (M = 16.74; SD = 2.03) were drawn from two Senior Secondary Schools in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Participants were administered with the Child and Adolescent Survey of Experiences (CASE) Scale by Allen, Rapee and Sandberg, (2008), the Big Five Inventory (BFI) by John, Donahue and Kentle (1991) and the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Scale by Aron and Aron (1997). Cross-Sectional survey design was adopted while multiple regression statistics was used to analyze data collected. Results showed that of the five personality dimensions, only conscientiousness and neuroticism significantly predicted high sensitivity in persons. The study also found that childhood stressful experience does not significantly predict high sensitivity in persons. Recommendations and suggestions were made based on the findings of the study.

Childhood Stressful Experiences, Big Five Personality Dimensions, High Sensitivity in Persons, Young Adults, Owerri, Nigeria

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