The effect of touch on affect, stress, sense of connectedness and sense of self: An experimental study on contact improvisation dance

Abstract

Touch is a powerful tool in human communication, enhancing our ability to connect with others. Touch is used in a number of dance forms, and of these Contact Improvisation (CI) is the one in which touch is used most intensively. Studying CI can contribute insights about the added value of touch for the well-being of people. This quantitative study investigated the effects of touch in contact improvisation (CI). We used a within-subject design, in which 15 male and 33 female participants (mean age = 50.15) danced in two conditions with randomized cross-over: dance improvisation without touch (DI) and contact improvisation with touch and sharing weight (CI). The effects on individuals were measured using the positive items of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-p) and visual analogue scales on happiness, stress, sense of connectedness, and sense of self. Our results show that both CI and DI conditions led to a reduction in stress, but dancing CI activated more positive affect, and contributed more strongly to an increase in sense of connectedness and sense of self than DI. These results indicate that dancing CI may contribute to the well-being of non-professional dancers through the intensive use of touch.