New study highlights health benefits of touch

Can touch help heal? Researchers at Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and the University Hospital Essen conducted a large-scale analysis of studies exploring touch interventions and found touch substantially improves physical and mental well-being via reduction of pain, anxiety, depression and stress, especially for those with physical or mental health problems. 

Source and duration of touch are less important than frequency; the more often touch happens, the greater the impact. A friend’s quick hug could be more impactful than a lengthy massage from a therapist if offered more frequently. 

Object or robot touch interventions were equally effective as human touch at improving physical well-being.  “Even a simple weighted blanket has the potential to help,” author Frédéric Michon explained. 

However, non-human interventions were less effective for mental well-being, “perhaps suggestive of the importance [of] an emotional component associated with the touch,” Michon added. 

Newborns benefit significantly from touch, especially when it comes from a parent rather than a healthcare worker. Researchers were unable to draw conclusions about children and teenagers due to a lack of studies involving those ages. 

“We hope our findings can steer future research to explore lesser-known questions,” Michon noted. “This includes animal touch, but also touch across ages, and in specific clinical settings like autistic patients.” 

For more information, visit nin.nl.