Disentangling touch aversion: A systematic investigation of measurement approaches, behavioural correlates, and underlying individual differences

Touch aversion and touch avoidance—negative attitudes toward and behavioural avoidance of physical contact—vary considerably across individuals and relationship contexts. However, the mechanisms underlying these differences remain poorly understood. This observational study systematically investigated the relationships between different measures of touch aversion, their behavioural manifestations, and associated individual traits. We examined touch aversion using multiple questionnaires (Touch Avoidance Questionnaire, Social Touch Questionnaire, and a novel Receptivity measure), alongside behavioural measures of touchability (body accessibility) and discomfort distance preferences. Individual difference measures included autistic traits, sensory sensitivity, threat sensitivity, and attachment style. Results revealed both convergent validity and distinctions between touch aversion measures. Whereas most measures showed intercorrelations, partner-specific touch aversion represented a distinct dimension. Contrary to expectations, discomfort distance preferences were unrelated to touch aversion measures. However, touchability showed meaningful associations with touch attitudes, with relationship-specific patterns. Partner touch aversion was more strongly related to touchability with loved ones, whereas stranger touch aversion was more strongly related to with touchability with strangers. Among the individual traits, sensory sensitivity was related to partner touch aversion, and threat sensitivity was related to both stranger touch aversion and general negative attitudes toward touch. In addition, sensory sensitivity mediated the relationship between threat sensitivity and touch aversion, suggesting these psychological processes work together rather than independently. These findings highlight the importance of considering relationship context when studying touch preferences and suggest that threat-related processing may be fundamental in shaping individual differences in touch aversion through its influence on sensory processing.