Affectionate touch contributes to stress and conflict management
rael-science
For
most people, receiving affectionate touch from a romantic partner just
feels good. What people may not know is that receiving hugs, kisses, and
back rubs may contribute to long-term health and well-being and the
maintenance of relationship satisfaction over time, says Syracuse
University's Brittany Jakubiak, an assistant professor in the Department
of Psychology.
Part of her research centers on understanding how close relationships promote
individual well-being. Prof. Jakubiak has published research in
Personality and Social Psychology Review about the ways affectionate touch promotes relational, psychological and physical well-being.
Jakubiak says:
"For most people, receiving affectionate touch from a romantic partner just
feels good. What people may not know is that receiving hugs, kisses,
and back rubs may contribute to long-term health and well-being and the
maintenance of relationship satisfaction over time. By isolating the
immediate consequences of receiving affectionate touch, we have begun to
uncover why touch may promote well-being for individuals and their
relationships.
"When
people receive touch, they feel cared for, protected, and loved, likely
because they infer that the touch-provider has genuine affection for
them. For this reason—combined with physiological changes resulting from
the physical touch experience—people who receive touch are better able
to manage personal stressors and relationship conflicts,
and they may be willing to deepen investment in their relationships
because they trust their partner to be responsive in the future."
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