The Sensitouch Study: A Prospective Exploration of the Development of Affective Touch Sensitivity in Early Life

INTRODUCTION. Adverse early experiences, often associated with a lack of nurturing parental touch, can leave lasting effects on psychosocial development. Affective touch, mediated by C-Tactile afferents, plays a vital role in healthy development. However, prior research is largely retrospective, cross-sectional, and focused on either the infant, mother, or mother-infant dyad, leaving gaps in understanding infant affective touch sensitivity (CT-sensitivity) and the broader parental context involving both parents. The Sensitouch project takes a novel, prospective approach to study CT-sensitivity development in infants during their first six months, considering both parents' roles.
METHODs. This ongoing prospective study involves 74 non-clinical parent-infant dyads. Infant CT-sensitivity is assessed at 1, 3, 8, 12, and 24 weeks of age, and parental CT-sensitivity is assessed before birth and at 12 and 24 weeks using an experiential stroking touch paradigm. ECG and respiration data are collected to calculate RR-interval (RRI), respiration rate (fR), and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Parental CT-sensitivity is also assessed vicariously, through ratings of perceived pleasantness of touch interaction videos. Broader parental context is examined through pre-birth trait questionnaires covering personality, attachment, emotion regulation, touch attitudes, and loneliness, alongside state questionnaires administered pre- and post-birth assessments measuring couple satisfaction, caregiving touch, postnatal depression, sleep quality, bonding, and touch longing.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS. Exploratory analyses, including correlation and ANOVA, will be conducted to examine associations and group differences in parent-infant CT-sensitivity and contextual factors. These findings will inform a Structural Equation Model (SEM) to integrate key variables and assess direct and indirect influences on early CT-sensitivity development.
RESULTSs and CONCLUSIONs. Preliminary findings will be presented, offering a first contextual understanding of CT-sensitivity development in early life. The goal of this study is to identify risk and protective factors associated with early parental touch deprivation, to ultimately enhance prevention and intervention efforts.