Introduction: Sensory processing plays a fundamental role in human functioning, shaping how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to their environment. Sensory health, defined as the awareness and responsiveness to sensory information within contextual experiences, is emerging as a critical factor influencing well-being and life satisfaction. Despite existing assessment tools for sensory processing, few capture its direct impact on health and daily functioning across diverse life domains.
Objective: To examine the validity of the constructs in the Sensory Health Awareness and Responsiveness Profile (SHARP), a novel tool designed to evaluate an individual's awareness and responsiveness to sensory stimuli in natural contexts.
Methods: A large-scale cross-sectional study was conducted with 601 Israeli students (Mage = 25.79 years, 62.1% females). Participants completed the SHARP anonymously online and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted with Oblimin rotation.
Results: Analysis yielded a 4-factor solution explaining 58% of the total variance of the SHARP: (1) Home and Self-Care Awareness and Responsiveness, (2) Social and Leisure Awareness and Responsiveness, (3) Relational and Body Awareness and Responsiveness, and (4) Work Awareness and Responsiveness.
Conclusions: Findings validated four SHARP factors that define individuals' sensory health profiles, reinforcing the significance of sensory health and its role in occupational therapy. Integrating SHARP into practice can improve the identification of sensory health needs, enabling personalized, occupation-based interventions that support well-being and daily functioning.