Abstract
Interpersonal touch and affective touch play a crucial role in social interactions and have a positive influence on mental health. The social distancing regulations implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic have reduced the ability to engage in interpersonal touch. This could cause longing for touch, and it might subsequently alter the way in which affective touch is perceived. To investigate this, we conducted an online survey and included 1982 participants, which contained questions regarding the COVID-19 regulations, longing for touch, and the perceived pleasantness of affective and non-affective touch. Results showed that participants reported feelings of longing for touch. This significantly increased with the duration and severity of the COVID-19 regulations. In addition, participants who experienced more longing for touch rated videos of affective and non-affective touch as more pleasant. Current results provide insight in the impact of sudden and prolonged COVID-19 regulations and show that increasing the duration and severity of these regulations is associated with a higher desire for touch, which is associated with increased perceived pleasantness of observing touch.
Highlights
Interpersonal touch and affective touch play a crucial role in social interactions and have a positive influence on mental health
Pre-COVID-19 research showed that touch deprivation increases stress, disrupts psychological resilience as well as coping with stressful situations, which can increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders and depression[12]
Changes in touch frequency as a result of COVID-19 might be associated with how CT-optimal touch is appraised and the extent to which individuals can benefit from the positive effects of CT-optimal touch
Summary
Interpersonal touch and affective touch play a crucial role in social interactions and have a positive influence on mental health. Pre-COVID-19 research showed that touch deprivation increases stress, disrupts psychological resilience as well as coping with stressful situations, which can increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders and depression[12] These previous studies have not been performed during global social distancing measures but focused on individuals who experienced touch deprivation even under unrestricted societal circumstances[13]. As such these previous findings have a limited generalizability, as during the COVID-19 pandemic a vast majority of the adult general population experienced a reduction in touch frequency, regardless of, for example, their mental health status, age or gender. Changes in touch frequency as a result of COVID-19 might be associated with how CT-optimal touch is appraised and the extent to which individuals can benefit from the positive (mental health) effects of CT-optimal touch
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
