A high five…a warm hand on yours…a hug from a family member—we have known about the healing power of touch for a long time, but studies now show that even small gestures, little touches and quick physical contacts between people result in surprisingly positive behavioral changes.
In one study conducted at Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City, researchers trained couples to be aware of one another’s mood through nonsexual touch on the neck, shoulders and hands. They found that couples who practiced this touch had higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone that increases the sensation of bonding and well-being, and lower levels of alpha amylase, a stress indicator, than couples who did not receive the training.
Last year, The New York Times reported that students who got a supportive touch (such as a gentle pat on the shoulder) from a teacher were about twice as likely to volunteer in class as those who did not…and that a kind touch from a doctor made people think that their doctor’s visit had lasted twice as long as those who had not been touched.
And what about high fives or fist bumps? A study from University of California–Berkeley researchers found that National Basketball Association teams whose players had positive tactile contact performed better than teams that did not. In the study, the researchers coded the touch behaviors of players during the 2008-to-2009 regular season. They concluded that physical touch seemed to encourage cooperation…ease stress…and create a warm and trusting environment.
So go ahead…hug your family members often…give your children all the affectionate physical contact you can…and don’t hesitate to connect with nonfamily members by placing your hand on theirs. It’s powerful medicine.
