The relation between touch deprivation and the pleasantness perception of slow, fast and static touch

Abstract

During the covid-19 pandemic, increased levels of touch deprivation among individuals emerged. Elevated levels of touch deprivation are found to be related to an altered evaluation of touch. This is particularly interesting concerning touch with an affective component, frequently described as CT-optimal touch. In current research, the relation between touch deprivation and the pleasantness perception of three different touch conditions (i.e. slow, fast and static touch) is examined. Furthermore, we examined whether the pleasantness perception of touch of the receiver is different from the toucher. The expectation was that the pleasantness perception of slow and fast touch was related to touch deprivation. In addition, we expected that being the receiver of slow touch entails a higher pleasantness perception than being the toucher. The present study was conducted during two science festivals and 102 individuals participated. In line with our expectation, the pleasantness perception of slow touch was related to touch deprivation. However, in contrast to our expectation, the pleasantness perception of fast touch was not related to touch deprivation. In neither of the touch conditions, the relation between pleasantness perception of touch and touch deprivation was modulated by the participant's role (either receiver or toucher). Therefore, the relation between pleasantness perception of touch and touch deprivation is dependent upon the type of touch and either being receiver or toucher holds no difference regarding pleasantness perception of touch. Current research possibly indicates that during times of restrictions of touch, an altered evaluation of touch is related to touch deprivation and reflected into higher levels of pleasantness perception of slow touch.