Self-soothing touch and being hugged reduce cortisol responses to stress: A randomized controlled trial on stress, physical touch, and social identity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Being touched by others improves stress coping. However, when touch from others is unavailable, feels uncomfortable, or is not considered to be safe (as in the COVID-19 pandemic), self-touch gestures, like placing a hand on the heart, may provide an alternative way to experience less strain.

Methods and materials

In this study, 159 healthy participants (96 women, 62 men, and 1 non-binary person), aged 18-35 years, were exposed to a standardized psychosocial stressor (Trier Social Stress Test) to investigate whether self-soothing touch or receiving a hug from others has a buffering effect on their stress responses. In addition, the study explored whether the effectiveness of these interventions is moderated by participants' assignment to a "personal" or "social" id

SUBMITTER: Dreisoerner A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9216399 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature