A meMO-II analysis of intelligence and emotion regulation in the association between sensory processing sensitivity and depressive symptoms in adolescents

This study examined whether intelligence is associated with the link between sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) and depressive symptoms, and whether emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) help explain this association. Using cross-sectional survey data from 3453 students (ages 10–15) in an academically oriented public school in Beijing, China, we used the second type of mediated moderation to examine the total and indirect moderating associations of intelligence with the SPS–depressive symptoms link via emotion regulation strategy use. Results showed that SPS was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.344, p < .001). Intelligence was indirectly associated with the strength of the SPS–depressive symptoms link via two emotion regulation strategies. Intelligence was positively associated with cognitive reappraisal (β = 0.103, p < .001), and this pathway was linked to a weaker SPS–depressive symptoms association (indirect effect = −0.009, 95% CI [−0.014, −0.004]). Intelligence was also negatively associated with expressive suppression (β = −0.050, p = .011), and lower expressive suppression was in turn associated with a weaker SPS–depressive symptoms association (indirect effect = −0.002, 95% CI [−0.005, −0.001]). Effect sizes were small, and findings should be interpreted as preliminary associations pending replication. The findings suggest that individual differences in intelligence may be linked to depressive symptoms partly through differences in emotion regulation strategy use, while SPS remains positively associated with depressive symptoms. Given the cross-sectional design, conclusions are limited to associations. These findings may inform future longitudinal research and school-based support for students with high SPS.