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Lost Touch? Implications of Physical Touch for Physical Health
[Social network-based distancing strategies to flatten the COVID-19 curve in a post-lockdown world]

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia A Thomas
  • Seoyoun Kim
  • Deborah Carr

Abstract

ObjectivesGrowing research on the impact of physical touch on health has revealed links to lower blood pressure, higher oxytocin levels, and better sleep, but links to inflammation have not been fully explored. Physical touch may also buffer stress, underscoring its importance during the stressful time of living in the COVID-19 global pandemic—a time that has substantially limited social interactions and during which physical touch has been specifically advised against.MethodWe analyze nationally representative longitudinal data on older adults (N = 1,124) from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project using cross-lagged path models.ResultsMore frequent physical touch is significantly related to a lower likelihood of subsequent elevated inflammation.DiscussionThese findings highlight the importance of finding safe ways to incorporate physical touch, even in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia A Thomas & Seoyoun Kim & Deborah Carr, 2021. "Lost Touch? Implications of Physical Touch for Physical Health [Social network-based distancing strategies to flatten the COVID-19 curve in a post-lockdown world]," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(3), pages 111-115.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:76:y:2021:i:3:p:e111-e115.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbaa134
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    Keywords

    COVID-19; Inflammation; Touch;
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