Self-soothing touch and being hugged reduce cortisol responses to stress: A randomized controlled trial on stress, physical touch, and social identity

Background: Being touched by others improves stress coping. However, when touch from others is unavailable, feels uncomfortable, or is not considered to be safe (as in the COVID-19 pandemic), self-touch gestures, like placing a hand on the heart, may provide an alternative way to experience less str...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aljoscha Dreisoerner, Nina M. Junker, Wolff Schlotz, Julia Heimrich, Svenja Bloemeke, Beate Ditzen, Rolf van Dick
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-11-01
Series:Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000655