Touch can reduce pain, depression and anxiety, say researchers
Back to Topic
Click to Print
Useful Websites
Glossary Term Selection
More consensual touch helps ease or buffer against mental and physical complaints, meta-analysis shows.
By Nicola Davis, Science Correspondent
Whether it is a hug from a friend or the caress of a weighted blanket, the sensation of touch appears to bring benefits for the body and mind, researchers say.
The sense of touch is the first to develop in babies and is crucial in allowing us to experience the environment around us as well as communicate. Indeed, the loss of touch from others during the Covid-19 pandemic hit many hard.
However, while myriad studies have suggested touch is beneficial for our health, few have attempted to draw the vast field of research together.
Now experts have done just that, revealing a simple message: touch helps.
Dr Helena Hartmann, a co-author of the research from University Hospital Essen, said: ‘More consensual touch events throughout our day can help alleviate or potentially buffer against mental and physical complaints.’
Published in the journal Natu...
Want to see the rest of this article?
Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?
- Useful related articles
- Video and multimedia references
- Statistical information and reference material
- Glossary of terms
- Key Facts and figures
- Related assignments
- Resource material and websites
