University Report: Touch as Resource in Stress Discussions Research

This research report reviews a study examining the impact of interpersonal touch during stress discussions on the well-being of married couples. The study, conducted by Jakubiak and Feeney, investigates how receiving touch affects personal and relational outcomes. Participants, newlywed couples, were videotaped while discussing personal stressors. The findings reveal that disclosers who received more frequent and intense touch experienced reduced stress, increased self-esteem, and viewed their partners more positively. The study's central hypothesis, which aligns with the findings, suggests that touch is effective in reducing stress. The report also notes the unexpected finding that helpers who received touch also viewed their partners more positively. The study's implications highlight the importance of touch in improving relationship satisfaction and trust. The report also discusses the methodology, including the selection of participants through local advertisements and the use of questionnaires and observational meetings, and provides suggestions for future research, such as including couples married for longer durations to assess the long-term effects of touch.

Running head: RESEARCH REPORT
RESEARCH REPORT
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1RESEARCH REPORT
Body:
The primary aim of the study is to examine the stressors which predict the relational and
personal well-being during the discussion by receiving touch from the partners.
To examine that, the authors of the article have surveyed by the help of the questionnaire
and other programs among the newly married couples. The participants are selected through the
help of local newspaper, flyers, email advertisement and the bridal shows. Two hundred twenty-
nine newlywed couples were chosen for the programs, out of which only 210 couples attended
the laboratory session. The questionnaire includes the items which aim to review the relationship
satisfaction, conflict and commitment and observational meetings among the respondents are
also conducted to discuss the impact of the stressors (Jakubiak & Feeney, 2018).
The findings of the article suggest that the range of stress has been reduced to a great
extent among the person who received touch of higher frequency and intensity during the
discussion and is more capable of overcoming their anxiety. The result also advocates about
increase in self-esteem among the respondents. Along with that they even started viewing their
partners with more positivity as compared to the respondents who had received less amount of
touch (Jakubiak & Feeney, 2018).
The central hypothesis or aim of the article is to evaluate the range of effectiveness in
reducing the stress by receiving touch from the partners and the finding that has been assessed
also revolves around the efficacy of contact in reducing the stress. Hence, it can be stated that the
primary hypotheses of the article lines with the findings of the article (Jakubiak & Feeney,
2018).

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The expected findings of the article are the reduction in the frequency of the stressor,
which has been evaluated after completing the research. Along with the anticipated findings, it is
observed that receiving touch during the discussion also helps in increasing the self-esteem of the
individual, which is considered as the additional findings or the unexpected one. (Jakubiak &
Feeney, 2018).
Implication:
Yes, the paper made an essential contribution to the primary issue that has been taken by
the author. The main topic of the article revolves around the effectiveness of the touch in
reducing the stress in couples while discussing. This paper made an essential contribution by
evaluating the efficacy of contact in the pair, its effectiveness in reducing the stress.
The researcher has done quality job in the article. They had selected the respondents who
are only newlywed and evaluated the effectiveness of the touch. However, the researcher should
also include the couples who have been married for long in the research. It would have provided
with the idea that whether reduction of the stress by touching is effected with the time or not.
The information which is required to understand the topic is mentioned in the article in
detail. The question is about the relational and positive outcome during the stress condition
through the help of the interpersonal touch. The findings of the report suggest that touching
while discussing support to gain positive personal outcome such as reduction in stress and
increased self-esteem as well as positive relational issue such as enhancing positivity for the
partners. The implication of the finding is also discussed in the articles that are helping to
improve relationship satisfaction and also improves trust between the partners.

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From the article, it can be stated that receiving touch while discussion helps to overcome
the stressor and the disclosers who provide touch seems to be more appreciative, receptive and
responsive, whereas those who are not receiving contact appears to be frustrated, overwhelm. It
can be used for future research with the help of the proposed mechanism, which was used in the
article.

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References:
Jakubiak, B. K., & Feeney, B. C. (2018). Interpersonal touch as a resource to facilitate positive
personal and relational outcomes during stress discussions. Journal of Social and
Personal Relationships, 0265407518804666.