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Published on: March 15, 2019
Affective-touch experiences and interpersonal space in anorexia nervosa
Federica Toppino1, Benedetta Salis1, Eugenio Scaliti2,3
1Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 11, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD
|June 23, 2026
Summary
Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) experience less affective touch and have larger interpersonal space (IPS), suggesting touch is linked to social difficulties in AN. Early tactile experiences may improve interpersonal functioning.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with significant body image disturbances and social difficulties.
- Affective touch plays a crucial role in social bonding and emotional regulation.
- The impact of affective touch experiences on interpersonal space (IPS) in AN remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare affective touch experiences across the lifespan in individuals with AN and healthy controls (HCs).
- To investigate the relationship between affective touch and body-image-related symptoms in AN.
- To assess the association between affective touch and interpersonal space (IPS) in AN.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 76 patients with AN and 77 HCs.
- Self-report questionnaires assessed eating disorder symptoms, anxiety, depression, and affective touch.
- Interpersonal space (IPS) was measured using a computer-based stop-distance task.
Main Results:
- Patients with AN reported significantly lower quantity and comfort with affective touch compared to HCs, with medium to large effect sizes.
- Individuals with AN exhibited more negative affective-touch experiences and higher general and body-image-related symptoms.
- Reduced affective touch and touch-related comfort in AN were strongly associated with larger IPS, independent of anxiety and depression.
Conclusions:
- Findings indicate a significant link between diminished and negative affective touch experiences and social difficulties in AN.
- Affective touch experiences are relevant to implicit body-related mechanisms and interpersonal functioning in AN.
- Clinical interventions for AN should consider addressing early tactile experiences and interpersonal functioning.
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