2023-08-24 08:09:00
According to a recent American study, physical contact still proves its benefits on health, especially heart health, and on morale.
In a relationship, there are many ways to show affection. With a few sweet words or a tender gesture, everyone is more or less sensitive to this or that demonstration. Often, psychologists focus on the question of love, and recently, an American researcher was interested in the question of couples who hold hands, as well as the benefits that this can have.
A study conducted on the benefits of this tender gesture
As reported by our colleagues from Psychologies, Professor James Coan, of the University of Virginia, has looked into this question. The latter is specialized in clinical psychology and director of the laboratory of affective neurosciences of Virginia. He is very interested in “neural systems that support social forms of emotion regulation”.
In 2020, he conducted a course on “the importance of holding hands in the context of social relationships and human interactions”. When two people hold hands, it immediately has a positive effect. In effect, it reduces the activity of the hypothalamus in the brain. This area regulates responses to stress.
“The hypothalamus is activated and first mobilizes the so-called “sympathetic” branch which controls the autonomic activities of the body (breathing, heartbeat, contractions of smooth muscles) and produces stress hormones via the adrenal glands, then solicits the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis to produce cortisol”explains the Federation for Brain Research.
According to James Coan, this simple tender gesture immediately has a soothing and comforting effect. It also creates a sense of security and strengthens emotional bonds. Even better, holding hands is said to have positive effects on heart health, and reduce blood pressure and heart rate.
Physical contact, not insignificant for our health
In any relationship, physical contact is important. Evidenced by a study published in 2013, which claims that hugs would reduce anxiety and low self-esteem. In addition to these effects, they are as good for the heart as holding hands.
In general, physical contact only has health benefits. As numerous studies have shown, such a rapprochement causes a reduction in the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. At the same time, physical contact increases the production of serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin, which play a significant role in the feeling of well-being.
The painkilling properties of touch
In addition, researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Haifa have highlighted the importance of physical contact in relieving pain. According to them, touching the skin of the person you are in love with helps reduce pain. The more the person sympathizes, the less the pain of the other. “It illustrates the power and importance of human contact”underlined Pavel Goldstein, one of the co-authors of the study.
With his colleagues, the researcher carried out an experiment on 22 heterosexual couples, with participants who were between 23 and 32 years old and who had been together for at least a year. In each of these couples, the woman received painful stimulation. During this time, either her partner was holding her hand, or he was sitting next to her but not touching her, or they were in separate rooms. The results showed that the heart rates and breaths of the couples holding hands were synchronized. According to scientists, if this simple contact reduces the feeling of suffering, it is because the person feels understood and supported.
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