Exploratory Study of Touch zones in college students on two campuses

Mark Tomita

doi:10.32398/cjhp.v6i1.1289

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to characterize college student beliefs about where it is acceptable to touch and be touched by other students in casual social interactions. Undergraduate students at a residential university (N = 242) and at a local community college (N = 200) completed the Touch Survey. The survey measures beliefs about touching in social interactions. Hierarchical cluster analyses were used to form touch zones (Public, Discretionary, and Private) by gender and direction of touch. The results of the study showed distinct same- and opposite-gender touch zone patterns, and there were touch zone differences between the two campuses. There were reciprocal touch zones for residential university male/male public touch zones and female/female private touch zones. There were no reciprocal touch zones for the community college sample. Implications for college health educators are discussed.

Highlights

Touch, or tactile communication, is a healthy and essential part of interpersonal communication where cultural beliefs and attitudes influence these social health behaviors (Dibiase & Gunnoe, 2004; Floyd, 2000; Remland, Jones, Brinkman, 1995)
The body mapping schemata developed from this line of research were cumbersome, and were representative of actual touches in one direction of communication between two people
Later researchers (Hutchinson and Davidson, 1990; Rosenfeld et al, 1976) provided evidence that culture plays a role in mediating the body accessibility construct, altering social touch behavior over time and place

Summary

Introduction

Tactile communication, is a healthy and essential part of interpersonal communication where cultural beliefs and attitudes influence these social health behaviors (Dibiase & Gunnoe, 2004; Floyd, 2000; Remland, Jones, Brinkman, 1995). Many students come to college already having had negative experiences with sexual harassment. In a national study of high school students, for example, as many as 83% of girls and 79% of boys reported having ever experienced sexual harassment [American Association of University Women Educational Foundation (AAUW), 2001]. Of these students, almost a fourth defined sexual harassment as unwanted touch. According to a recent national study (Hill and Silva, 2006), a third of college freshman have been sexually harassed. Eighty nine percent of students say sexual harassment occurs on their campus, and 83% of students say they would be very or somewhat upset about someone touching (e.g., touch, pinch, or grab) them in a sexual manner

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Discussion

Conclusion