Touch in close relationships

Intercultural differences in the effects of touch in close relationships

In collaboration with Belinda Campos, University California, Irvine, and scholars from six Latin-American countries,we investigate the differences in the frequency and effect of touch on well-being across different types of close relationships in Latino vs Northern-Western cultures.

Collaborators:

Involved students:

  • Nicole Froidevaux, PhD-student, University of California, Irvine
  • Alumni: Argelia Arestegui, and Maria Remon-Ore, master students, Université de Lausanne

Touch as a stress-buffer: An experimental study with physiological measures

This projects investigates whether touch, from the romantic partner or from a stranger, can play a role as a buffer of an experimentally induced stress (self-esteem threat).

Petra Klumb, University of Fribourg
Jennifer Stellar, University of Toronto Mississauga
Elise Dan-Glauser, Université de Lausanne

Involved students: Ileana Di Vattimo Losada and Aurore Keim, Université de Lausanne

Touch from a clinical psychology perspective

Is touch experienced differently when a person suffers from a mental health issue or is submitted to potentially traumatic events? What about their partners? Can we promote well-being when inducing people to touch? In a range of project, we are starting to address these questions.

Partners: