Mapping Studies of Environmental Sensitivity to Social Environments in Adult Mental Health: A scoping review

Much of the traditional literature on vulnerability to psychopathology is based on the diathesis-stress model. More recently, vantage sensitivity and differential susceptibility were proposed as alternative models, with all three being encompassed in the environmental sensitivity framework. While there are numerous systematic reviews on these models in children, there is limited research addressing their applicability in adulthood. This study aimed to map studies conducted within the environmental sensitivity framework in the prediction of adult mental health. Systematic scoping review reporting followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A forward reference search was employed using eight foundational environmental sensitivity articles through three databases. Thirty-four studies met inclusion criteria, and a narrative synthesis was employed to analyze the findings. The review found variability and inconsistency in testing the models of environmental sensitivity, with most studies not utilizing recommended best practices. All three models of environmental sensitivity were supported, including 53 significant and 80 non-significant interactions. Overall, childhood environments tended to show stronger support for differential susceptibility while adulthood environments showed more balanced evidence for both the differential susceptibility and diathesis-stress models. Most studies focused on genotype and internalizing behaviors, resulting in a limited understanding of person-environment interactions for other individual and mental health factors. Further research is needed to test environmental sensitivity across diverse populations and in a wider range of contexts to guide developmental theory and interventions.