According to researchers, touch and hugs can significantly improve both physical and mental health, particularly by reducing feelings of anxiety and depression. This healing effect is observed in both children and adults.
Touch is beneficial not only for healthy individuals but also for those receiving medical care in clinical settings. To reach these conclusions, a team of scientists from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany analyzed data from 212 studies involving 12,966 participants of various ages and genders. As a result, the researchers found compelling evidence of the health benefits of touch for those who interacted with other people or therapeutic devices—such as robots and weighted sensory blankets.
The greatest benefits for physical and mental health were noted when people touched other individuals rather than objects. However, the study’s lead researcher, Julian Packheiser, and his colleagues found no differences in health benefits among various types of touch. Touching, hugging, and massage were equally effective, as reported by the Independent. These findings applied to participants of all ages, from adults to infants.
The researchers also observed that the more frequent the tactile contact, the more beneficial the impact on the respondents’ well-being. Touching the face or scalp resulted in better health outcomes than interactions with other body parts. Additionally, one-directional touches were found to be more effective than random touches.
“We have provided clear evidence that sensory interventions are beneficial for both physical and mental health, for healthy individuals as well as clinic patients, and for people of all ages,” the team concluded.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.