From bodily numbness to social connection: unveiling the relationship between depersonalization, self-concept, and social touch

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between depersonalization symptoms, social touch seeking and acceptance, self-concept clarity, and psychological factors in a large sample of Argentinian participants (N = 273). In this online study, we assessed participants' acceptance of (or willingness to receive) touch from strangers, friends/family, and intimate partners. Replicating previous studies, we found a higher acceptance of touch from closer social bonds. Touch acceptance from intimate partners showed weak links with self-concept clarity and lower depersonalization symptoms. However, no definitive link between depersonalization symptoms and touch seeking or acceptance was found. Higher depersonalization symptoms were associated with increased social touch avoidance and decreased self-concept clarity. Mediation analyses indicated that social touch avoidance partially mediates the relationship between depersonalization and self-concept clarity. Additionally, depersonalization was associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and negative affect, and lower levels of positive affect and life satisfaction. Our results underscore the importance of considering touch in creating therapeutic interventions for depersonalization.