The Romantic Buffer: The Effect of Affective Touch by Romantic Partner on Itch Experience

Abstract

Introduction: The sensation of itch on the skin starts when neurons called the C afferents are activated. Affective touch, slow touch that activates C tactile afferents, can inhibit an itch response. This study investigates whether affective touch by romantic partner has a greater inhibiting effect on itch experience and if this effect is moderated by an anxious attachment style. It also investigates whether awareness to bodily sensations affects itch experience. Method: Itch was electrically induced for 6 minutes during 5 different conditions: affective touch by romantic partner or researcher, non-affective touch by romantic partner or researcher and a control condition where no tactile stimulation was applied. VAS-scale measurement of itch was conducted every minute. Results: Affective touch by romantic partner did not have a greater inhibiting effect on itch, which was not moderated by attachment style. Participants with a higher awareness to bodily sensations experienced the itch more intensely. Discussion: The absence of the effect of affective touch is most likely due to tactile desensitization, indicating that the method of itch induction should be altered. It should also be considered that attachment style has an indirect effect on itch experience via coping style, rather than a direct effect. Lastly, results suggest that people with a higher attentional focus to bodily sensations experience itch more intensely. Conclusion: This study should be used as a steppingstone for future research using a new method for inducing itch and a design that is more considerate to the influence of attentional focus.