2025 Volume 33 Pages 83-94
Focusing on the temperamental characteristics of medical social workers (MSWs), we used the concept of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) to qualitatively investigate the differences in work burden and coping strategies based on SPS levels. The study involved 20 MSWs, and their SPS levels were evaluated using the Japanese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale.
The results indicated that MSWs with high SPS did merely internalize external stimuli as a sense of burden, but also expressed this burden to family members and trusted colleagues, and took appropriate actions to manage it. In contrast, MSWs with low SPS tended to externalize the sense of burden onto others and while managing it internally.
As for self-care, MSWs with high SPS were evaluated as being able positively reframe their sensitivity, incorporate their experiences into theoretical understanding, and gain new knowledge through training sessions. MSWs with low SPS, on the other hand, were evaluated as capable of introspecting on instances where they were forced to behave against their intentions, and to organize their thoughts by reassessing their relationships with superiors and colleagues and leveraging their own networks.
