For most people, receiving affectionate touch from a romantic partner just feels good. What people may not know is that receiving hugs, kisses, and back rubs may contribute to long-term health and well-being and the maintenance of relationship satisfaction over time, says Syracuse University’s Brittany Jakubiak, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology.
Part of her research centers on understanding how close relationships promote individual well-being. Prof. Jakubiak has published research in Personality and Social Psychology Review about the ways affectionate touch promotes relational, psychological and physical well-being.
Jakubiak says:
“For most people, receiving affectionate touch from a romantic partner just feels good. What people may not know is that receiving hugs, kisses, and back rubs may contribute to long-term health and well-being and the maintenance of relationship satisfaction over time. By isolating the immediate consequences of receiving affectionate touch, we have begun to uncover why touch may promote well-being for individuals and their relationships.
“When people receive touch, they feel cared for, protected, and loved, likely because they infer that the touch-provider has genuine affection for them. For this reason—combined with physiological changes resulting from the physical touch experience—people who receive touch are better able to manage personal stressors and relationship conflicts, and they may be willing to deepen investment in their relationships because they trust their partner to be responsive in the future.”
To request interviews or get more information:
Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Marketing and Communications
T 315.443.1184 M 315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell
350 West Fayette Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
news.syr.edu | syracuse.edu
Syracuse University
If you need an expert to discuss the legacy of Pope Francis, you may want to consider Syracuse University Catholic Father Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv., or The Rev. Brian E. Konkol, Ph.D., vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. He…
Fluoride in drinking water has become a highly charged topic in recent weeks. In March, Utah became the first state to prohibit the addition of fluoride to the state’s public water systems, a move praised by U.S. Health Secretary Robert…
It’s a headline sure to grab a reader’s attention – after thousands of years of extinction, a biotechnology company claims it has brought back the dire wolf through genetic engineering. But is this milestone truly “de-extinction,” and what are some…
After the sweeping tariffs were unveiled on April 2 on nearly all United States trading partners, the impact on the stock market was felt immediately, but how would this impact the political parties in the coming elections? Political Science Professor…
Reporters looking experts to discuss automotive tariffs, please consider Terence Lau, Dean of the College of Law at Syracuse University. Dean Lau began his career in the Office of the General Counsel at Ford Motor Company in the International Trade and…
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
