Touch for Social Engagement and Therapy: A Narrative Review

doi:10.28933/ijprr-2022-09-2105tfi

Cited by 1 publication

(5 citation statements)

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“…The data suggested that handholding contributed to reduced anxiety whether it was with a glove or without a glove. Those findings were not surprising given that handholding both with and without the glove would be expected to stimulate pressure receptors in the hands and ultimately lead to higher serotonin levels (anti-pain neurotransmitter) [8].…”

Section: Handholdingmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…These data, however, were based on videos, not live situations. Surprisingly, no mention was made of the stimulation of pressure receptors that would have occurred during handholding versus gentle stroking, and how gentle stroking can be arousing and therefore irritating for some participants [8].…”

Section: Handholdingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, heart rate variability increased in both patients with cancer and their family caregivers (N=74). Heart rate variability (vagal activity) typically increases during the stimulation of pressure receptors, so an increase would be expected during handholding [8]. A study on the pressure of handholding, the frequency of squeezing the other's hand during handholding and its relationship to intimacy would be informative.…”

Section: Handholdingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Strikingly absent from the literature on handholding and hugging is the potential mechanism of stimulating pressure receptors that Copyright © Tiffany Field. has been extensively studied by researchers of massage therapy [8]. As has been documented in a few studies on moderate pressure massage, the moderate pressure that is applied during hugging and handholding would be expected to increase vagal activity.…”

Section: Potential Underlying Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other pain-associated hormones like substance P may have also been decreased, although substance P has not been measured. In turn, immune function would be expected to improve including increased natural killer cells (that kill bacterial, viral and cancer cells) that has been documented following moderate pressure massage [8]. Surprisingly, the massage therapy data have not been considered as a model for the handholding and hugging research.…”

Section: J Clin Psychol Neurol 2023mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Touching Reduces Pain and Stress: A Narrative Review

Field

2023

J Clin Psychol Neurol

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This narrative review involved entering the terms touching, massage, pain and stress on PubMed and PsycINFO literature search engines. The search yielded 47 studies that are summarized here. The prevalence of touching has varied widely across cultures from a low of 57% in China to a high of 100% in Austria. Touching has been more prevalent in relationships with partners and children and was more diverse in warmer, less conservative and religious countries and among younger, female and liberal people. The three predominant forms of touching that appear in this literature include handholding primarily for painful conditions, hugging (embracing) for stressful conditions and massaging for both painful and stressful conditions. Other less prevalent literature addresses the effects of COVID-19 on touching, touching by robots, and negative reactions to touching. Unlike earlier literature, most of the researchers have either measured or theorized underlying brain pathways for touching reducing pain and stress. Most of this research has been conducted in the laboratory as opposed to being naturalistic, so it is not clear how generalizable the data are to lifelike situations.

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Section: Handholdingmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Handholdingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Handholdingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Underlying Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: J Clin Psychol Neurol 2023mentioning

confidence: 99%

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