UCLA

Study 1. Previous research suggests that affectionate touch might downregulate stress systems like the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. However, the current literature lacks in generalizability beyond the laboratory setting and outside the context of romantic relationships. The cortisol awakening responses (CAR) is a measure of HPA axis that is responsive to daily fluctuations in stress and social information. However, associations between affectionate touch and CAR have never been assessed. I used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to measure daily hugging behavior in 104 first year college students and salivary cortisol to assess the cortisol awakening response (CAR). I found that participants who reported more daily hugs also had smaller CARs the next morning. This study contributes to the literature on social interactions and stress responsive systems and emphasizes the importance of assessing affectionate touch behaviors that can be exchanged outside the context of romantic relationships.

Study 2. Compared to European Americans, Latinx Americans may engage in more affectionate touch behavior across a variety of social environments. However, previous studies fail to assess how changes in identification with Latinx or Anglo culture, or acculturation, influences affectionate touch behavior. Since acculturation changes as the cultural context changes, I tested if hugging behavior changed with acculturation for Latinx students over the first year of college. Three days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and self-reported acculturation were measured at the beginning and the end of the year. Individual preference for touch, identification with the Latinx cultural value, simpat�a, and the demographics of students’ home communities were also considered. In our sample of 81 students, we did not find evidence of these relationships. However, this study emphasizes the importance of considering the personal, social, and cultural factors that influence affectionate touch behavior.