Brain Sciences (Mar 2023)
Positive Touch Deprivation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Anxiety, Stress, and Depression among Italian General Population
- Francesco Bruno,
- Carlotta Tagliaferro,
- Sonia Canterini,
- Valentina Laganà,
- Marianna Contrada,
- Chiara Fioravanti,
- Natalia Altomari,
- Rebecca Pistininzi,
- Francesca Tarantino,
- Alessia Placanica,
- Ersilia Martina Greco,
- Francesca Capicotto,
- Saverio Spadea,
- Anna Maria Coscarella,
- Martina Bonanno,
- Federica Scarfone,
- Sara Luchetta-Mattace,
- Alessia Filice,
- Annamaria Pettinato,
- Ana Avramovic,
- Chloe Lau,
- Georgia Marunic,
- Francesca Chiesi
Affiliations
- Francesco Bruno
- Department of Primary Care, Regional Neurogenetic Centre (CRN), ASP CZ, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
- Carlotta Tagliaferro
- School of Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
- Sonia Canterini
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University La Sapienza, 00158 Rome, Italy
- Valentina Laganà
- Association for Neurogenetic Research (ARN), 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
- Marianna Contrada
- S. Anna Institute and Research in Advanced Neurorehabilitation (RAN), 88900 Crotone, Italy
- Chiara Fioravanti
- Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie -Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zürcherstrasse, 8852 Altendorf, Switzerland
- Natalia Altomari
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Rebecca Pistininzi
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Francesca Tarantino
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Alessia Placanica
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Ersilia Martina Greco
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Francesca Capicotto
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Saverio Spadea
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Anna Maria Coscarella
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Martina Bonanno
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Federica Scarfone
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Sara Luchetta-Mattace
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Alessia Filice
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Annamaria Pettinato
- Scholar at Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Degree Course in Science and Techniques of Cognitive Psychology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Ana Avramovic
- Faculty of Philosophy, Laboratory for Experimental Psychology, University of Belgrade, 11102 Belgrade, Serbia
- Chloe Lau
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Georgia Marunic
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
- Francesca Chiesi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13040540
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 13,
no. 4
p. 540
Abstract
Physical distancing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic has limited the opportunities for family members, friends, and significant others to show physical affection (i.e., hugs, kisses, caresses, holding hands) during social interactions. The present study investigated the effects of positive touch and psychological distress in 991 Italian participants (Mage = 34.43, SD = 14.27). Results showed the frequency of hugs with the cohabiting partner significantly decreased the symptoms of depression (β = −1.187, p = 0.018, eβ = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.11–0.82), whereas the frequency of caresses with cohabiting relatives predicted the symptoms of anxiety (β = 0.575, p = 0.034, eβ = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.04–3.03). The frequency of hugs (β = −0.609, p = 0.049, eβ = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.30–1.00), and kisses (β = 0.663, p = 0.045, eβ = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.01–3.71) with non-cohabiting relatives predicted the symptoms of anxiety (χ2 = 1.35, df = 5, p = 0.93). These results suggest the importance of positive touch on psychological well-being in the social context.
Keywords
