Touch in psychotherapy: Experiences, desires and attitudes in a large population survey.

IF 3 1区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Psychotherapy Research Pub Date : 2025-07-25 DOI:10.1080/10503307.2025.2534971

Michal Tanzer, Athanasios Koukoutsakis, Ilia Galouzidi, Paul M Jenkinson, Claudia Hammond, Michael J Banissy, Aikaterini Fotopoulou

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: Social touch has known therapeutic effects on physical and mental health. However, research on the role of touch in psychotherapy is limited. The frequency of touch in psychotherapy, and the individual differences that influence clients' perceived quality and desirability of touch, remain unknown.

Methods: We utilized the largest-to-date UK survey on touch, identifying 6878 individuals who reported receiving psychological therapy in the last 10 years, to explore: (1) the perceived quantity and affective quality (positive/negative) of therapeutic touch experiences, (2) the desirability of touch, and (3) key traits such as attachment style that may influence the perceived meaning and desirability of touch.

Results: Touch was reported by 30% of responders, with 70% of them stating it communicated support. Importantly, 4% reported it as inappropriate, and 5% rated their experiences as negative. Additionally, 40% of responders expressed some desire to be touched by their therapist. Higher scores on avoidant attachment were negatively associated with positive ratings of touch. The desire to be touched was associated with attachment style, with individuals scoring higher on anxious attachment reporting a greater desire for touch.

Conclusion: This exploratory survey highlights the need for further investigation into the potential benefits and risks of touch interventions.

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心理治疗中的触摸：大规模人口调查中的经验、欲望和态度。

目的：社交接触对身心健康具有已知的治疗作用。然而，关于触摸在心理治疗中的作用的研究是有限的。心理治疗中触摸的频率，以及影响来访者感知到的触摸质量和可取性的个体差异，仍然是未知的。方法：我们利用英国迄今为止最大规模的触摸调查，选取了6878名报告在过去10年中接受过心理治疗的个体，探讨：(1)治疗性触摸体验的感知数量和情感质量（积极/消极），(2)触摸的可取性，(3)可能影响触摸感知意义和可取性的关键特征，如依恋类型。结果：30%的应答者报告了触摸，其中70%的人表示它传达了支持。重要的是，4%的人认为这是不合适的，5%的人认为他们的经历是负面的。此外，40%的应答者表达了被治疗师触摸的愿望。回避型依恋得分越高，对触摸的正面评价越高。渴望被触摸与依恋类型有关，焦虑型依恋得分越高的人对触摸的渴望越大。结论：这项探索性调查强调了需要进一步研究触摸干预的潜在益处和风险。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Psychotherapy Research PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

7.80

自引率

10.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： Psychotherapy Research seeks to enhance the development, scientific quality, and social relevance of psychotherapy research and to foster the use of research findings in practice, education, and policy formulation. The Journal publishes reports of original research on all aspects of psychotherapy, including its outcomes, its processes, education of practitioners, and delivery of services. It also publishes methodological, theoretical, and review articles of direct relevance to psychotherapy research. The Journal is addressed to an international, interdisciplinary audience and welcomes submissions dealing with diverse theoretical orientations, treatment modalities.