TY - JOUR

T1 - Social touch deprivation during COVID-19

T2 - effects on psychological wellbeing and craving interpersonal touch

AU - von Mohr Ballina, Mariana

AU - Kirsch, Louise P

AU - Fotopoulou, Aikaterini

PY - 2021/9/8

Y1 - 2021/9/8

N2 - Social touch has positive effects on social affiliation and stressalleviation. However, its ubiquitous presence in human lifedoes not allow the study of social touch deprivation ‘in thewild’. Nevertheless, COVID-19-related restrictions such associal distancing allowed the systematic study of the degreeto which social distancing affects tactile experiences andmental health. In this study, 1746 participants completed anonline survey to examine intimate, friendly and professionaltouch experiences during COVID-19-related restrictions, theirimpact on mental health and the extent to which touchdeprivation results in craving touch. We found that intimatetouch deprivation during COVID-19-related restrictions isassociated with higher anxiety and greater loneliness eventhough this type of touch is still the most experienced duringthe pandemic. Moreover, intimate touch is reported as thetype of touch most craved during this period, thus beingmore prominent as the days practising social distancingincrease. However, our results also show that the degree towhich individuals crave touch during this period depends onindividual differences in attachment style: the more anxiouslyattached, the more touch is craved; with the reverse patternfor avoidantly attached. These findings point to theimportant role of interpersonal and particularly intimatetouch in times of distress and uncertainty.

AB - Social touch has positive effects on social affiliation and stressalleviation. However, its ubiquitous presence in human lifedoes not allow the study of social touch deprivation ‘in thewild’. Nevertheless, COVID-19-related restrictions such associal distancing allowed the systematic study of the degreeto which social distancing affects tactile experiences andmental health. In this study, 1746 participants completed anonline survey to examine intimate, friendly and professionaltouch experiences during COVID-19-related restrictions, theirimpact on mental health and the extent to which touchdeprivation results in craving touch. We found that intimatetouch deprivation during COVID-19-related restrictions isassociated with higher anxiety and greater loneliness eventhough this type of touch is still the most experienced duringthe pandemic. Moreover, intimate touch is reported as thetype of touch most craved during this period, thus beingmore prominent as the days practising social distancingincrease. However, our results also show that the degree towhich individuals crave touch during this period depends onindividual differences in attachment style: the more anxiouslyattached, the more touch is craved; with the reverse patternfor avoidantly attached. These findings point to theimportant role of interpersonal and particularly intimatetouch in times of distress and uncertainty.

U2 - 10.1098/rsos.210287

DO - 10.1098/rsos.210287

M3 - Article

VL - 8

JO - Royal Society Open Science

JF - Royal Society Open Science

SN - 2054-5703

IS - 9

ER -