‘Touch hunger’: trajectory and predictors of longing for physical contact during the COVID-19 pandemic in people with and without depressive, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorders

Key Points

• Touch hunger surged among individuals regardless of mental health status, reflecting a universal desire for physical interaction.
• Extroverts reported stronger feelings of touch hunger, emphasizing their reliance on social connections during lockdown.
• Analyzing various mental health conditions revealed that longing for contact is a basic human need, rather than a symptom of psychological disorders.
• The findings suggest the importance of addressing physical contact needs to support mental well-being during and post-pandemic.