Longing for Touch and Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Birgit Hasenack; Larissa L Meijer; Jonas C C Kamps; Andy Mahon; Giulia Titone; H Chris Dijkerman; Anouk Keizer

doi:10.3390/ijerph20053855

Longing for Touch and Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 21;20(5):3855. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20053855.

Authors

Birgit Hasenack^{1

2}, Larissa L Meijer¹, Jonas C C Kamps¹, Andy Mahon¹, Giulia Titone¹, H Chris Dijkerman¹, Anouk Keizer¹

Affiliations

¹ Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
² Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Abstract

To combat the spread of the COVID-19, regulations were introduced to limit physical interactions. This could induce a longing for touch in the general population and subsequently impact social, psychological, physical and environmental quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between COVID-19 regulations, longing for touch and QoL. A total of 1978 participants from different countries completed an online survey, including questions about their general wellbeing and the desire to be touched. In our sample, 83% of participants reported a longing for touch. Longing for touch was subsequently associated with a lower physical, psychological and social QoL. No association was found with environmental QoL. These findings highlight the importance of touch for QoL and suggest that the COVID-19 regulations have concurrent negative consequences for the wellbeing of the general population.

Keywords: COVID-19; longing for touch; quality of life; touch deprivation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Humans
Pandemics
Quality of Life
Touch
Touch Perception*

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Utrecht University, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Science COVID-19 Fund.