The Japanese say “skin-ship”: 「スキンシップ」.
The 2020-2022 global pandemic caused a sharp change in social behavior. This has facilitated analysis of physical contact’s impact on psychological wellbeing. One comprehensive study (1) found that in general deprivation of intimate touch (e.g., caressing, kissing, warm hugs) from close family was associated with increased feelings of anxiety and loneliness. However, the lack of friendly physical contact (e.g., social hugs, handshakes, shoulder taps) from friends or at work did not have a similar impact on psychological wellbeing.
Human skin has sensors called C-tactile fibers that detect the gentle stroking touch of 1 to 10 centimeters per second that people say is pleasant. Social touch causes the release of oxytocin, a social-bonding hormone, in the brain. Oxytocin is also believed to reduce anxiety and pain. (2)
There is an extensive research literature investigating the importance of touch:
| Touch and different factors | |
| Factor | References |
| Social bonds | 3, 4, 5 |
| Human psychology | 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| A person’s likability | 11, 12, 13 |
| Generosity and compliance | 13, 14, 15 |
| Infant stress | 16, 17 |
| Infant touch deprivation | 18, 19, 20, 21 |
| Infants and carers | 22, 23, 24 |
| Close relationships | 25 |
For the references, please follow the link here.
The benefits of physical contact are not limited to humans; nor are they new.
To quote Ishmail Abdus-Saboor of Columbia University: “All mammals that have been studied have C-tactile fibers, suggesting that these sensory cells, and the ability to detect social touch, are evolutionarily conserved and essential.” (2)
Scientists have also studied the benefits for children and adults of stuffed animals. “For children, stuffed animals can provide comfort and security at bedtime, opportunities to develop and practice reading skills, and relief from pain in post-surgical settings.” (26) For adults, “across two studies, we found that socially excluded individuals who touched a teddy bear acted more prosocially as compared to socially excluded individuals who just viewed the teddy bear from a distance.” (27)
