Affectionate Touch and Intimacy in Bereaved Parents
Author Information
Author(s): Ergun Turan Deniz, Asuman Buyukcan-Tetik, Anik Debrot, Henk Schut, Margaret Stroebe
Primary Institution: University of Twente, The Netherlands
Hypothesis
Bereaved couples will have lower affectionate touch levels than non-bereaved couples.
Conclusion
Affectionate touch benefits both bereaved and non-bereaved couples' intimacy, with bereaved women showing lower levels of affectionate touch compared to non-bereaved women.
Supporting Evidence
- Bereaved women reported lower affectionate touch than non-bereaved women.
- Affectionate touch was positively associated with intimacy for both bereaved and non-bereaved couples.
- Couples with higher affectionate touch reported higher intimacy levels.
Takeaway
When parents lose a child, they might not hug or touch each other as much, but touching can help them feel closer and better.
Methodology
A seven-day diary study comparing affectionate touch and intimacy levels between bereaved and non-bereaved couples.
Potential Biases
The study may not fully capture the experiences of bereaved parents due to the predominance of labor loss and a long time since the loss.
Limitations
The sample predominantly consisted of couples who experienced pregnancy loss and may not represent recently bereaved parents.
Participant Demographics
The sample included mostly middle-aged, highly educated participants, with a mix of bereaved and non-bereaved couples.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
[.35 - .47]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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