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Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans
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Affective touch perception and longing for touch during the COVID-19 pandemic
Larissa L Meijer1, B Hasenack2, J C C Kamps2
1Experimental Psychology/Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands. l.l.meijer@uu.nl.
Scientific Reports
|March 11, 2022
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Interpersonal and affective touch are vital for social connection and mental well-being.
- Social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic limited physical contact.
- This reduction in touch may lead to increased longing for touch and altered perceptions of its pleasantness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between COVID-19 social distancing regulations and feelings of touch deprivation.
- To investigate how longing for touch influences the perception of affective and non-affective touch.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was administered to 1982 participants.
- Data collected included experiences with COVID-19 regulations, touch longing, and perceived pleasantness of observed touch (affective and non-affective).
Main Results:
- Participants reported significant longing for touch, which correlated positively with the duration and severity of COVID-19 regulations.
- Increased longing for touch was associated with higher ratings of pleasantness for videos depicting both affective and non-affective touch.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged and stringent COVID-19 regulations heightened the desire for physical contact.
- A greater desire for touch enhances the perceived pleasantness of observing touch, highlighting the psychological impact of touch deprivation.
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