LEXINGTON, Ky. – Over three days, more than 200 doctoral candidates in the University of Kentucky’s online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program will present their capstone research during the 5th Annual Virtual Showcase of DSW Scholars, held April 27–29, 2026. Registration is free and opens April 20.
DSW scholar Kristine Proctor’s capstone focuses on high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)—a temperament trait characterized by deeper processing and heightened responsiveness—and explores how understanding it in athletes can improve mental health, coping, and performance.
Proctor’s research is rooted in both clinical experience and personal insight.
In her private practice, Proctor noticed a pattern among clients who continued to experience physical symptoms of stress and anxiety even after addressing underlying concerns. That observation led her to explore SPS more deeply.
“Many clients have found that recognizing these sensations as overstimulation rather than anxiety is life-changing and has empowered them to respond more effectively,” Proctor shared.
Through this work, Proctor also came to better understand her own experiences as a high SPS individual, further strengthening her connection to the research and its applications in sport.
Despite growing awareness around athlete mental health, Proctor notes that current models often fail to account for how some athletes process and respond to their environments.
High SPS, she explains, is frequently misunderstood, leading to athletes being labeled as anxious, unfocused or inconsistent, rather than recognizing the underlying dynamics at play.
“What is often misunderstood in sport, such as overthinking, emotional intensity, or variable performance under pressure, may actually reflect high SPS athletes’ deeper processing and heightened responsiveness to environmental input,” she said. “This reflects a highly attuned nervous system, not a dysfunctional one.”
Her work reframes these traits as strengths, highlighting how deeper processing can support skills like pattern recognition, anticipation and strategic decision-making when athletes are supported in the right environments.
Beyond individual athletes, the research has broader implications for teams, coaches and organizations. Proctor emphasizes the importance of creating environments that support regulation, engagement and performance, shifting the focus from changing the athlete to understanding the interaction between the athlete and their surroundings.
The capstone process has further strengthened her ability to integrate research, theory and practice, while reinforcing her commitment to approaches that are responsive to individual and environmental factors.
Following graduation, Proctor plans to continue her clinical work and teaching while expanding research on high SPS athletes and launching an awareness initiative to promote more practical, strengths-based strategies in sport.
At the center of her work is a message that extends beyond athletics:
“Understanding how individuals process their environments is essential to supporting both well-being and performance,” she said. “When we shift from asking ‘What’s wrong with this athlete/person/me?’ to ‘What’s happening within the individual–environment interaction?’, we create space for more accurate understanding and more effective support.”
The Virtual Showcase of DSW Scholars will feature more than 200 presentations and is open to the public, with continuing education credits available for attendees. Registration will open on April 20th. Registration information and showcase news will be shared via email. Those interested in staying informed can subscribe to the College’s email list at https://ukcosw.com/subscribe and select “DSW Showcase and News.”
Note: The perspectives presented in this research are those of the individual scholar and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Kentucky.