Affective Touch, According To Studies Can Increase Love Satisfaction

Illustration of how to increase sex satisfaction according to a study (Unsplash/Candice Picard)

JAKARTA – Affective touch, according to studies, is beneficial for married couples. This simple touch can help increase sexual satisfaction and a higher quality relationship.

Research conducted by Debrot, Meuwley, Muise, Impett, and Schoebi in 2017, explored how physical affection mediates relationships and is related to sexual activity and well-being. Affective touch or physical affection is defined as how often you and your partner hold hands, sit close together, touch relaxes, hug, and kiss.

Citing Psychology Today, Monday, December 20, in the study, the team asked partners to report sexual activity and intimate moments of physical action four times a day. From the report, researchers can evaluate which behaviors have the potential to affect other aspects, such as sexuality and mental well-being.

The results of the study show two things that influence each other. On the one hand, being intimate can increase the chances of a partner to make love. On the other hand, making love increases intimacy.

Another study conducted by Busby, Hanna-Walker, and Leavitt in 2020, explored the frequency of kissing between partners and their relationship to the quality of lovemaking. The results showed that more frequent kissing between partners contributed to increased sex drive, higher chances of orgasm, and greater satisfaction.

Based on these two studies, Jeremy Nicholson, MSW, Ph.D., a social and personality psychologist who focuses on couple relationships, recommends increasing intimacy by frequently providing affective touch. How to start a strategy to increase intimacy? Here's Nicholson's advice for you and your partner.

Spend time together

In simple terms, if you are far from your partner it means it is impossible to touch or even kiss them. Therefore, create intimate interactions by spending time together. It doesn't take long, but it does require an agreement to spend some time alone.

In addition, just sitting close together can increase feelings of intimacy. So find a way to stay close.

Give the right touch

Affective touch is not just when you want to make love. However, in everyday life, give a simple touch, for example kissing your partner before leaving for work or hugging him after breakfast. Plus, give more intensity when building sexual attraction.

Kiss your partner intimately

In addition to a sensual kiss before a sex session or during foreplay, give also an intimate kiss landing on the forehead of a partner, for example. Kissing, like the study outlined above, can bond and connect with a partner.

The three suggestions above, you and your partner will increase sexual interaction. From a simple way by providing an affective touch, a happy relationship, fun lovemaking, and a feeling of well-being will be more awake.