How many times, in the presence of a loved one who is depressed, sad, distressed or in pain, have we felt the need to give them a hug, to caress them? And how many times, in a moment of stress and maximum tension and nervousness, have we longed for and needed to feel a hand on our shoulder to instil calmness, encouragement and reassurance? Probably many more than we can remember. The question is whether this need and instinct is real—has a physiological basis—or simply a habit, a compassionate gesture.
Although most studies suggest that touch does indeed promote mental and physical well-being, there is still no consensus, largely because of the many variables involved. However, a review of more than 200 studies on the subject by researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience has confirmed that timely physical contact does indeed measurably improve our mental and physical state and relieve pain, anxiety, depression and stress. Not only that, but the study has also identified the variables that determine the effectiveness of this physical touch therapy, the characteristics that this contact must have in order to achieve the maximum benefit.
From a physiological point of view, the key seems to be that physical contact helps to regulate blood levels of cortisol, the hormone that the body releases in stressful situations to prepare itself for the threat. Its main effects are to increase blood glucose levels, reduce non-essential functions and concentrate all the body’s resources and efforts on muscular and sensory activation. From this perspective, physical contact is interpreted by the body as a signal of protection and safety.
The key to maximising benefits
But perhaps the most revealing aspect of the research concerns the conditions that maximise the benefits of such interactions. The study concluded that the affective bond with the person touching you is irrelevant, i.e. it makes no difference whether the caress comes from a loved one or a stranger—even non-human contact, whether from a robot or an animal, produces equivalent well-being—except in the case of babies, where parental contact is by far the most effective.
The type of contact and its duration are also irrelevant: whether it’s a pat on the shoulder or a quick high-five, the effect is similar to a bear hug or a long massage. What does make a difference, however, is the frequency of the contact: the more recurrent it is, the greater the benefit. For example, short but very frequent touching has a greater impact than, say, a single long massage.
An extreme example of this can be seen in basketball games, and how every time a player performs an action, whether positive or negative, there are teammates who touch the player’s hand or give them a pat. This is particularly evident during free throws, where each shot is preceded and followed by a procession of touching.
And it is precisely this particular case that was the subject of analysis in another study, independent of the previous one, but complementary. In this study, the researchers watched 60 women’s basketball games and analysed how the number of teammates who touched the shooter before each shot affected her free-throw shooting percentage. And what they found was that this percentage increased. This was especially evident after missing the first free throw. It was then that a more direct relationship was observed between the number of touches and the success rate on the second shot. This confirms the benefit of frequent physical contact in stressful situations.
Putting contact to the test
Taking advantage of the fact that we are in the clutch period of the basketball season, with the final stages of the Liga Endesa (Spain’s top professional basketball league) and the NBA in full swing, and the Olympic qualifying tournament and 2024 Olympic Games fast approaching, this is the perfect time to replicate the experiment from the second study: sit in front of the TV and count the number of touches the free-throw shooter receives before each shot. Is there a relationship between the number of touches and their success rate? And what about after missing the first shot? Is it more evident in the fourth quarter than in the first? And in close games more than in games with comfortable leads?
And here’s another experiment, more proactive than the last one: next time someone tells you they’re feeling down, depressed, anxious or that something hurts, give them a hug and get everyone around them to do the same. Then ask them if they feel better.
Repeat this with all the anxious and stressed people you meet (you can find them everywhere during exam time), changing the variables each time: a long hug versus several pats on the shoulder; a single hug from you versus a pat from everyone present… Which are more effective? And who benefits more: someone suffering from physical pain or a mental or emotional problem? What kind of contact is most beneficial in each case?
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