‘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.
Abstract
Touch hunger rose during the lockdown and was widespread regardless of mental health conditions, indicating a fundamental human need for physical contact, especially among extroverts.
‘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 | Synapse