By Holly

Most would probably agree that social media enables us to keep in daily touch with loved ones near and far away, which is great.

I know I’ve often thought of friends and family (even former co-workers) in the past, and not found the time to write letters or emails because something always seems to intervene.

Social community platforms have been wonderful for staying current with my relationships and getting back in contact with those who have gone by the wayside. (Speaking of which, if you haven’t connected with us on Facebook, we’d love to have you as a fan!)

The one thing this type of cyber-interaction doesn’t fulfill, though, is my need for human touch. An embrace from a friend, a cuddle with my child, or spooning with my lover just can’t be imitated.

Numerous studies have shown that as babies we need touch, almost as much as food, in order to develop into well-adjusted adults. As adults, touch combined with trust not only makes us feel better by increasing the release of oxytocin (a.k.a the hormone of love), but we also tend to pass those good feelings on to other people, through affectionate gesture.

Recently, a friend brought to my attention this study on the “Importance of Touch” done by Lever 2000 — maker of soaps and body washes. What I found interesting is that, according to the study, families are being more physically affectionate with each other, especially during these challenging economic times. Come to think of it (or perhaps I just notice it more because I’ve read the study) I am seeing a lot more people hugging each other — which is fantastic.

Maybe the time has come to strike a new balance between computer time and cuddle time? It might be worth doing a study of your own.

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