Touch starvation
Touch starvation is a condition when a person doesn't get as much physical touch as they need.[1] It may manifest as a craving for contact or as other health ailments. It's also known as touch deprivation or skin hunger.
People may develop touch starvation because of social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, social conflict, globalization,[2] and many other factors. But it can happen with any lack of physical touch, such as children in orphanages and elderly people in hospitals who don't get enough positive contact.
Why touch is important[edit | edit source]
Human touch is an import aspect of interaction and bonding with others, but it is also important for maintaining good health. Lack of contact during infancy and childhood can cause stunted growth[3] and during adulthood it can slow recovery from injuries and raise cortisol levels, causing body rigidity and joint pain.
When a person doesn't get enough physical touch, it may provoke stress, anxiety and depression. In response to stress the body makes a hormone called cortisol, which can cause the heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and breathing rate to go up, causing negative effects to a person's immune and digestive systems. These things can lead to poor sleep and a higher risk of infections and mortality. Other medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma may worsen. There have been cases where long-term touch starvation have even triggered post-traumatic stress disorder.
The skin is the largest sensory organ in the human body. When a person engages in pleasant touch, like a hug, the brain releases a hormone called oxytocin,[4] which makes a person feel good, firms up emotional and social bonds, relieves anxiety and fear, and lowers cortisol levels.
Doll therapy has also been proven effective in improving some outcomes in dementia and cognitive decline,[5] as well as alleviating distress and promoting comfort.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Alexandra Benisek. Touch Starvation: What to Know. WebMD. Accessed on August 10, 2021.
- ↑ Sebastian Reiche. Are We Bound to Feel Lonely in the Globalized World? IESE Business School University of Navarra blog. Accessed on August 10, 2021.
- ↑ Ardiel, Evan L, and Catharine H Rankin. “The importance of touch in development.” Paediatrics & child health vol. 15,3 (2010): 153-6. doi:10.1093/pch/15.3.153
- ↑ Uvnäs-Moberg, Kerstin et al. “Self-soothing behaviors with particular reference to oxytocin release induced by non-noxious sensory stimulation.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 5 1529. 12 Jan. 2015, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01529
- ↑ Pezzati, Rita et al. “Can Doll therapy preserve or promote attachment in people with cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems? A pilot study in institutionalized patients with dementia.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 5 342. 21 Apr. 2014, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00342