"You're taking Latin Dance, Erik? I'm SO happy! I honestly think that level of touch will be good for your studies and for your mental health."
For similar reasons, my dad is just as excited about my Military Fitness class when he learns that the class focuses on partner exercises; meaning that we push on against a partner's arms in the place of weights. He isn't stoked that I'm going to be getting a good workout... well, he is that too. But he's primarily happy because this means I'll be getting regular physical touch from the other guys in my class and he's convinced this is healthy.
Is my dad nuts? That seems the only explanation. Why else would he place such a huge emphasis on me touching people, of all things? How does he see benefits in physical contact with friends, and not just any friends, but a bunch of sweaty guys whom I have no romantic inclinations toward?
My dad's conclusions are actually rooted in his studies of neuroscience and mental health. It turns out that touch is a vital part of human development. Researchers first realized this decades ago, when we discovered that premature infants who were gently massaged for 45 minutes a day gained weight 47% quicker, experienced faster brain development, and were able to be released from the hospital an average of six days earlier than infants who weren't touched, saving around $3,000 dollars in medical fees per infant. (1) Another example is the commonly cited story of Romanian orphans, who, deprived of touch and connection but given other basic necessities of life, experienced a skyrocketing mortality rate. It seems that, in some ways, touch is kinda like a super-vitamin. One that, if we get too little of, we can actually get sick and die.
Some researchers postulate that touch just as important to human physical, mental, and emotional development past infancy and into adulthood. (2) The growing demand for massage therapy seems to support this conclusion, and recent studies seek to explore this matter further. Suffice it to say, my dad's support of me touching other people, though it might sound weird, is supported by a growing body of evidence. People need connection, much like we need food or drink. Touch is an important part of that connection, one that is too often deprived us. College students, the elderly, or people who live on their own often experience a dearth of this vital vitamin.
So, I'd encourage you to fill this need. Go dancing, give a friend or family member a hug. With coronavirus going on, this can be difficult. But don't ignore this need just because it's difficult to meet. Find a way, reach out for help. If there is no possible way, even recognizing the need you might have can help.
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Photo by Khoa Pham on Unspash
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