A new study has found that physical touch, such as hugging or even petting a heavy blanket, can help improve physical and mental health. According to the study, touch from both humans and animals can reduce pain and feelings of depression and anxiety in both adults and children. The results suggest that touch is beneficial for physical and mental health, whether for healthy individuals or those in clinical environments (hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities). Researchers in the paper published in Nature Human Behaviour state: "We provide clear evidence that touch interventions are beneficial for a wide range of physical and mental health outcomes, for both healthy and clinical populations, and across all ages."
Researchers conducted a review and analysis of 212 studies, involving a total of 12,966 participants, to explore the health benefits of touch. They found strong evidence of health benefits among adults who interacted with humans or other entities, including robots and heavy blankets. However, the greatest mental health benefits were found when people touched other individuals rather than objects. Julian Packheiser from Ruhr University in Germany and colleagues found no differences in the physical or mental health benefits among adults based on the type of touch, such as massage or hugging. The same findings were also observed in newborns.
The study also indicates that the type and duration of touch were not significant, although the frequency of physical contact with someone was associated with greater benefits in adults. According to the results, touch was effective in improving mental health for both healthy and ill individuals. The researchers also found improved health outcomes when touching the face or scalp compared to other body parts like the torso, and this one-way touch was better than random touch.
