The physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions: A comparative systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Receiving touch is of critical importance for human well-being. A large number of studies have shown that touch promotes mental and physical health. However, effect sizes differ considerably across studies and potential moderators of touch interventions remain unknown to this day. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and a large-scale multivariate multilevel meta-analysis encompassing 137 randomized-controlled studies in healthy participants and patients (166 cohorts, 9617 participants and 643 effect sizes) to identify critical factors moderating touch and research on touch intervention targets. Results: We found comparable and medium-sized (g ~ 0.5) effects of touch on both mental and physical health. Touch interventions were especially effective in regulating cortisol levels and increasing weight in newborns, as well as in reducing pain, feelings of depression and anxiety for adults and children. Touch interventions involving objects or robots resulted in similar physical but lower mental health benefits than human interactions. Clinical cohorts profited stronger in mental health domains but showed comparable physical health benefits as healthy individuals. Familiarity between the touch dyad was inconsequential in children and adults but critical in newborns. The number of sessions positively correlated with increased mental and physical health benefits in adults and children while session duration did not show significant effects. Discussion: Leveraging those factors that influence touch intervention efficacy will help maximize the benefits of future social touch interventions and focus research in this field.

Rapid Processing of Observed Touch through Social Perceptual Brain Regions: An EEG-fMRI Fusion Study

“…Positive touch plays an important role in establishing and maintaining social bonds ( Hertenstein et al, 2006b ; Chatel-Goldman et al, 2014 ; Suvilehto et al, 2015 ). It facilitates effective communication, fosters greater trust and empathy, and provides relief from stress, anxiety, and pain, ultimately leading to improved psychological and physical wellbeing ( Debrot et al, 2013 ; Korisky et al, 2020 ; Shamay-Tsoory and Eisenberger, 2021 ; Packheiser et al, 2023 ). While social touch is often associated with positive social interactions, touch can be used as a potent tool for aggression ( Hertenstein et al, 2006a ; Lee Masson and Op de Beeck, 2018 ).…”

Rapid processing of observed touch through social perceptual brain regions: an EEG-fMRI fusion study

“…Positive touch plays an important role in establishing and maintaining social bonds (Hertenstein et al, 2006b;Chatel-Goldman et al, 2014;Suvilehto et al, 2015). It facilitates effective communication, fosters greater trust and empathy, and provides relief from stress, anxiety, and pain, ultimately leading to improved psychological and physical wellbeing (Debrot et al, 2013;Korisky et al, 2020;Shamay-Tsoory and Eisenberger, 2021;Packheiser et al, 2023). While social touch is often associated with positive social interactions, touch can be used as a potent tool for aggression (Hertenstein et al, 2006a;.…”

Out of touch? How trauma shapes the experience of social touch – neural and endocrine pathways

“…Triscoli et al (2017b) found that receiving touch decreased participants' heart rate. A recent meta-analysis about touch interventions yielded a medium effect size for beneficial effects on both physical and mental health (Packheiser et al, 2023).…”