A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions.

Julian Packheiser, Helena Hartmann, Kelly Fredriksen, Valeria Gazzola, Christian Keysers, Frédéric Michon

June 2024 Nat Hum Behav

Synopsis of Social media discussions

Overall, the discussions are positive and inquisitive, with examples like 'touch has wide benefits for all ages' and mentions of the systematic review emphasizing scientific credibility. The tone is respectful and emphasizes the importance of human contact, reflecting deep engagement and support for the study's implications.

A
Agreement
 Moderate agreement

Most discussions highlight support for the study’s findings, recognizing touch’s health benefits, indicated by phrases like 'very interesting review' and references to scientific evidence.

I
Interest
 High level of interest

Posts show high enthusiasm and curiosity about the topic, using words like 'interesting,' 'wide benefits,' and sharing links to the full study.

E
Engagement
 High engagement

Several discussions delve into the implications and methods, referencing specific studies, scientific names, and emphasizing the importance of human touch in mental and physical health.

I
Impact
 Moderate level of impact

While the discussions underscore the significance of the findings, they mainly serve to inform and generate interest rather than prompting immediate widespread behavioral changes, hence a moderate impact score.

Social Mentions

YouTube

3 Videos

Bluesky

5 Posts

Facebook

12 Posts

Twitter

50 Posts

Blogs

14 Articles

News

402 Articles

Reddit

2 Posts

Metrics

Video Views

1,919

Total Likes

248

Extended Reach

771,731

Social Features

488

Timeline: Posts about article

Top Social Media Posts

Posts referencing the article

Benefits of Human Touch for Mental and Physical Wellbeing

Benefits of Human Touch for Mental and Physical Wellbeing

A large-scale analysis by researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience reveals that consensual touch significantly benefits physical and mental health. Touch by parents, especially for newborns, enhances health outcomes and emotional wellbeing.

Connected Babies

May 22, 2024

1,314 views

Impact of Touch Interventions on Physical and Mental Health Benefits

Impact of Touch Interventions on Physical and Mental Health Benefits

Touch interventions significantly improve physical and mental health outcomes, reducing stress, pain, depression, and anxiety, based on a systematic review of 137 studies involving nearly 13,000 people.

Елена Аронина

May 28, 2024

599 views

Benefits of Touch for Babies and Adults Insights from Research

Benefits of Touch for Babies and Adults Insights from Research

Research shows that consensual touch significantly boosts physical and mental health, reducing pain, stress, and anxiety. For newborns, touch from parents fosters bonding and attachment, highlighting the importance of human connection for well-being.

Connected Babies

May 15, 2024

6 views

  • Klinik für Neurologie Essen
    @neurologieessen.bsky.social (Bluesky)

    Helena Hartmann (Neurologie, The Bingel Laboratory) für “A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions”; www.nature.com/articles/s41... @ulrikebingel.bsky.social 3/6
    view full post

    October 1, 2025

    1

    1

  • SFB/TRR 289 Treatment Expectation
    @sfb-trr-289.bsky.social (Bluesky)

    And @helenahartmann.com won a prize for one of the best ECR papers!
    view full post

    September 18, 2025

    4

    2

  • CRUX Psychology
    @cruxpsychology (Twitter)

    #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #psychology #wellbeing #touch #family #friends #relationship #relationships #love #friendship #hug #depression #anxiety #pain #StressRelief #stress (Packheiser et al., 2024) https://t.co/g3WXgsjVeS
    view full post

    June 5, 2025

  • Martin Billing
    @BillingMartin (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions https://t.co/26rj0SZzWF Touch is a key element for humans Manual therapy in msk healthcare is not a key element.
    view full post

    March 31, 2025

    5

    1

  • Martin Billing
    @BillingMartin (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions https://t.co/26rj0T07Md An interesting paper on "touch" Whats key for me is what is and isnt considered Healthcare
    view full post

    March 4, 2025

    2

  • Valence Therapy - Jon Tallerico LMT, PT, DPT, ACSM-EP
    @valencedpt.bsky.social (Bluesky)

    When you think of mental health, does massage come to mind? Because it definitely should. Touch had demonstrated large effects on depression, anxiety, stress, mood, and sleep quality. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38589702/
    view full post

    February 14, 2025

    2

    1

  • NeuroClass
    @neuroclass1 (Twitter)


    view full post

    January 21, 2025

    4

  • Maximilian
    @_Maximilan (Twitter)

    RT @Maede2024: لمس به بهبود سلامت روانی و جسمی کمک می‌کند. به‌ویژه، لمس در تنظیم سطوح کورتیزول و افزایش وزن در نوزادان و همچنین در کاهش درد…
    view full post

    January 21, 2025

    1

  • Maede
    @Maede2024 (Twitter)

    لمس به بهبود سلامت روانی و جسمی کمک می‌کند. به‌ویژه، لمس در تنظیم سطوح کورتیزول و افزایش وزن در نوزادان و همچنین در کاهش درد، احساس افسردگی و اضطراب در بزرگسالان نقش دارند. https://t.co/wM0j9MOkXA پ.ن. عکس مربوط به مقاله نیست. گرمای دستهای پر مهر را از هم دریغ نکنیم. https://t.co/V5HviixoQJ
    view full post

    January 20, 2025

    12

    1

  • AndyHab
    @andyhab.bsky.social (Bluesky)

    Original paper: Julian Packheiser, Helena Hartmann, Kelly Fredriksen, Valeria Gazzola, Christian Keysers, Frédéric Michon A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions Nature Human Behaviour, 2024 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01841-8
    view full post

    January 17, 2025

  • AndyHab
    @andyhab.bsky.social (Bluesky)

    Original paper 1: Julian Packheiser, Helena Hartmann, Kelly Fredriksen, et al. A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions. Nature Human Behaviour, 2024 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01841-8
    view full post

    December 11, 2024

    1

    1

  • ɹǝʇlnoԀ pıʌɐᗡ
    @Retlouping (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions https://t.co/6kqnm5nbn3 https://t.co/F03Y8EBFOt
    view full post

    August 5, 2024

    1

  • daigaku-nekoΦωΦ
    @Manyaces (Twitter)

    RT @myuuko: タッチすることは，新生児のコルチゾール調整，体重増加を促し，また，成人の痛み，うつ，不安を軽減するよというメタ分析。物やロボットのタッチは身体面への有益性は同等だが精神面では劣る，など。/ A systematic review and multivar…
    view full post

    June 2, 2024

    11

  • Ainhoa
    @elmapadelcambio (Twitter)

    Por lo tanto, diseñar intervenciones personalizadas de contacto físico puede maximizar beneficios terapéuticos, especialmente en poblaciones clínicas.
    view full post

    May 28, 2024

  • ひっそり
    @Hissoritobo (Twitter)

    RT @myuuko: タッチすることは，新生児のコルチゾール調整，体重増加を促し，また，成人の痛み，うつ，不安を軽減するよというメタ分析。物やロボットのタッチは身体面への有益性は同等だが精神面では劣る，など。/ A systematic review and multivar…
    view full post

    May 28, 2024

    11

  • 高穂｜永福町
    @shimokunetaka (Twitter)

    RT @myuuko: タッチすることは，新生児のコルチゾール調整，体重増加を促し，また，成人の痛み，うつ，不安を軽減するよというメタ分析。物やロボットのタッチは身体面への有益性は同等だが精神面では劣る，など。/ A systematic review and multivar…
    view full post

    May 27, 2024

    11

  • 唐子面鯛子@トランス差別ゆるさない
    @hiraharakurita (Twitter)

    RT @myuuko: タッチすることは，新生児のコルチゾール調整，体重増加を促し，また，成人の痛み，うつ，不安を軽減するよというメタ分析。物やロボットのタッチは身体面への有益性は同等だが精神面では劣る，など。/ A systematic review and multivar…
    view full post

    May 27, 2024

    11

  • 立川の教育情報
    @edu_tachikawa (Twitter)

    RT @myuuko: タッチすることは，新生児のコルチゾール調整，体重増加を促し，また，成人の痛み，うつ，不安を軽減するよというメタ分析。物やロボットのタッチは身体面への有益性は同等だが精神面では劣る，など。/ A systematic review and multivar…
    view full post

    May 27, 2024

    11

  • 逗子とヨット。
    @Srunnning (Twitter)

    RT @myuuko: タッチすることは，新生児のコルチゾール調整，体重増加を促し，また，成人の痛み，うつ，不安を軽減するよというメタ分析。物やロボットのタッチは身体面への有益性は同等だが精神面では劣る，など。/ A systematic review and multivar…
    view full post

    May 27, 2024

    11

  • Ryuhei So
    @RyuheiSo (Twitter)

    RT @myuuko: タッチすることは，新生児のコルチゾール調整，体重増加を促し，また，成人の痛み，うつ，不安を軽減するよというメタ分析。物やロボットのタッチは身体面への有益性は同等だが精神面では劣る，など。/ A systematic review and multivar…
    view full post

    May 27, 2024

    11

  • 小谷優平 yuheikodani@言語聴覚士，川崎医療福祉大学，助教, Ph.D.
    @B45KTCivYDZBh7G (Twitter)

    RT @myuuko: タッチすることは，新生児のコルチゾール調整，体重増加を促し，また，成人の痛み，うつ，不安を軽減するよというメタ分析。物やロボットのタッチは身体面への有益性は同等だが精神面では劣る，など。/ A systematic review and multivar…
    view full post

    May 27, 2024

    11

  • Yuuko Morimoto
    @myuuko (Twitter)

    タッチすることは，新生児のコルチゾール調整，体重増加を促し，また，成人の痛み，うつ，不安を軽減するよというメタ分析。物やロボットのタッチは身体面への有益性は同等だが精神面では劣る，など。/ A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical… https://t.co/ES4TGkaPzE
    view full post

    May 26, 2024

    59

    11

  • amelia
    @amelia_guertin (Twitter)

    @syncretismftw @signulll Why IRL? There are a few of recent studies comparing touch interventions involving objects or robots resulting in similar physical but lower mental health benefits. While VR/AR can help, we still need human touch for our mental wellbeing https://t.co/iOwob2Utvk
    view full post

    May 20, 2024

    1

  • Xavier Revert Vidal
    @RevertVidalX (Twitter)

    RT @leafs_s: Nature Human Behaviour A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch…
    view full post

    May 12, 2024

    7

  • Sander Koole
    @SLKoole (Twitter)

    RT @leafs_s: Nature Human Behaviour A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch…
    view full post

    May 12, 2024

    7

  • CLaE
    @leafs_s (Twitter)

    RT @leafs_s: Nature Human Behaviour A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch…
    view full post

    May 12, 2024

    7

  • みに丸
    @ph_minimal (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions | Nature Human Behaviour 人の温もり(身体接触)はメンタルヘルスにどうなんかっていうSRなんだけど、めっちゃ長ぇ！ https://t.co/bS1uammz8P
    view full post

    May 12, 2024

    1

  • 猫になりたい薬剤師
    @Vannyamoto (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions - PubMed https://t.co/SkUBO74sEd
    view full post

    May 12, 2024

  • 理学療法士_海津陽一 Ph.D.
    @copellist (Twitter)

    ■ Ref info: Packheiser, Julian, et al. "A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions." Nature Human Behaviour (2024): 1-20. ■ Ref link: https://t.co/JzJPl8FywA ■ note link: https://t.co/rrfXYC73yL
    view full post

    May 8, 2024

    3

  • pink baby
    @huiwang537353 (Twitter)

    @elonmuskPOTUX Yes, there is scientific evidence. “A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions”。
    view full post

    May 7, 2024

  • お茶柱／心理学のべレスク
    @otea_stalk (Twitter)

    【MA】身体接触の健康メリット？ 総勢12,966人を統合 新生児も成人も、タッチ介入は心身の健康を改善する 新生児のコルチゾール・体温調節・呼吸・肝機能などへ効果がある 成人のうつ症状や不安・痛みに効果あり ロボットでも身体的痛みに効果がある https://t.co/wChQbGXdkR
    view full post

    May 7, 2024

  • Dr. Carl Hindy
    @DrCarlHindy (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions … systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis encompassing 137 studies in the meta-analysis and 75 additional studies — Nature https://t.co/vvZx8LULuT
    view full post

    May 4, 2024

    6

  • delafosse christian
    @delafossechri11 (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions | Nature Human Behaviour https://t.co/PQshouZsAF
    view full post

    April 21, 2024

  • Claudia_La
    @ClLazarides (Twitter)

    RT @leoschilbach: A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions | Na…
    view full post

    April 20, 2024

    4

  • Maria Mayr
    @hyazintha (Twitter)

    RT @leoschilbach: A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions | Na…
    view full post

    April 19, 2024

    4

  • Leonhard Schilbach
    @leoschilbach (Twitter)

    RT @leoschilbach: A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions | Na…
    view full post

    April 19, 2024

    4

  • priya joseph
    @ayirpelle (Twitter)

    RT @leoschilbach: A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions | Na…
    view full post

    April 18, 2024

    4

  • Leonhard Schilbach
    @leoschilbach (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions | Nature Human Behaviour https://t.co/g6j83BfZzF
    view full post

    April 18, 2024

    13

    4

  • Roger Blackwell
    @rogerablackwell (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions https://t.co/27sY5xvPw8
    view full post

    April 17, 2024

  • Lifeboat Foundation
    @LifeboatHQ (Twitter)

    A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions https://t.co/mFm1QDzQht
    view full post

    April 17, 2024

  • AngryPhDstudent❗️❗️❗️
    @ONNESHA092 (Twitter)

    RT @leafs_s: Nature Human Behaviour A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch…
    view full post

    April 16, 2024

    7

  • priya joseph
    @ayirpelle (Twitter)

    RT @leafs_s: Nature Human Behaviour A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch…
    view full post

    April 15, 2024

    7

  • Nathalia Le Hen
    @NathaliaLeHen (Twitter)

    RT @leafs_s: Nature Human Behaviour A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch…
    view full post

    April 15, 2024

    7

  • Hiro Hamada 濱田太陽 | Health is King
    @HiroTHamadaJP (Twitter)

    RT @leafs_s: Nature Human Behaviour A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch…
    view full post

    April 15, 2024

    7

  • CLaE
    @leafs_s (Twitter)

    Nature Human Behaviour A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions https://t.co/D4Ywm6B4EN
    view full post

    April 15, 2024

    40

    7

  • NeuronS_MATTR Network
    @NeuronS_MATTR (Twitter)

    Very interesting review! "A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions" https://t.co/dMKmtwSGaO
    view full post

    April 10, 2024

    2

  • Michael Ostrolenk, MA, MFT
    @mostrolenk (Twitter)

    RT @NeuroscienceNew: “A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions”…
    view full post

    April 9, 2024

    2

  • veoveo
    @linaamandarinaa (Twitter)

    RT @metodologica_cl:
    view full post

    April 9, 2024

    8

  • Cristóbal Payns
    @Cristobal_Payns (Twitter)

    RT @metodologica_cl:
    view full post

    April 8, 2024

    8

  • Burton Lee
    @burtonlee (Twitter)

    RT @NeuroscienceNew: “A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions”…
    view full post

    April 8, 2024

    2

  • Carlos Andrés Rodríguez Fernández
    @CARLITIOX (Twitter)

    RT @metodologica_cl:
    view full post

    April 8, 2024

    8

  • blu
    @soylablu (Twitter)

    RT @metodologica_cl:
    view full post

    April 8, 2024

    8

  • Alexis R. | METODOLOGICA_CL
    @metodologica_cl (Twitter)


    view full post

    April 8, 2024

    31

    8

  • Neuroscience News
    @NeuroscienceNew (Twitter)

    “A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions” by Christian Keysers et al. Nature Human Behavior https://t.co/TVgeWC4QFI 3/3
    view full post

    April 8, 2024

    8

    2

  • Dr. Helena Hartmann
    @helenahhartmann (Twitter)

    To sum it up, touch has wide physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages (and also for animals, as our review shows)! Read the full study here: https://t.co/6MGARyjpSm The supplement with more figures: https://t.co/ACdoCTsLOR 10/ https://t.co/OavqT34jCo
    view full post

    April 8, 2024

    8

Abstract Synopsis

  • Touch interventions have been shown to significantly improve both physical and mental health outcomes, especially in reducing stress hormones like cortisol, pain, depression, and anxiety, based on a systematic review of 137 studies involving nearly 13,000 people.
  • The effectiveness of touch is consistent whether applied by humans, objects, or robots, though mental health benefits tend to be lower with object or robot touch, and adults with clinical conditions tend to benefit more in mental health areas compared to healthy individuals.
  • Additionally, the review found that the familiarity of the person delivering touch doesn't significantly alter its benefits in adults, but parental touch is particularly more beneficial for newborns' health outcomes.