Publication:

Exploring the inner experiences of individuals with high sensory-processing sensitivity in coping with the loss of a loved one(s) : a study of Muslims in Malaysia

Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) describes trait sensitivity to experiences. High SPS individuals experience overarousal from sensory input, strong emotional reactivity, and high awareness of subtleties in the environment (Greven et al., 2019). Studies on SPS are young in the research world, making it difficult to understand how high SPS individuals experience impactful life events. Thus, the study aimed to explore the experiences of high SPS Muslims in facing the loss of loved one(s) during the COVID-19 crisis and their coping strategies to cope with the loss. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was employed to allow a detailed exploration of how the participants make sense of their loss experiences. The study recruited five high SPS female Malaysian Muslims to explore the inner experiences of losing their loved one(s) during the COVID-19 crisis and their coping strategies to cope with the loss. The study found that the participants had various intense inner experiences during the period of loss and applied various coping strategies to cope with the loss. Nine themes of loss experiences (e.g., Sorrow, Saudade, Denial) and eight themes of coping strategies (e.g., Self-talk, Positivity, Avoidance) were identified in this study. These findings align with past SPS studies that highlighted the characteristics of high SPS individuals such as having deeper emotional intensity and being easily affected by negative stimuli. The study also found that applying Islamic values such as redha and performing Islamic rituals helped the participants cope with the loss. It is recommended that future studies of SPS investigate how heightened sensitivity influences daily activities as this understanding can inform targeted interventions, improve mental health services, and enhance the overall quality of life for individuals with high SPS.