Adolescents and the development of social touch preferences: the HandsOn Mobile App reveals gender differences in peer interactions

Interpersonal social touch is a powerful form of communication whose meaning depends on the relationship between partners. This becomes especially salient in adolescence, where gender plays a central role in shaping the physical, neuropsychological, and social factors underlying touch preferences. Here we explore how gendered touch preferences within friendships evolve from adolescence to adulthood. Using the HandsOn mobile App, 59 adolescents (from 10 to 18 years of age, Mage = 14.1) and 54 adults (Mage = 29.5) created heatmaps on full-body avatars to indicate body zones they found soothing or unpleasant to be touched by a female or male friend. Touch to intimate versus social body zones was more unpleasant for female vs male participants, and for adolescents vs adults. Gendered intergroup differences emerged during adolescence, with girls reporting a specific aversion to touch from male friends. Our App provides a safe environment for adolescents to reflect on physical aspects of their socio-affective identity that are often treated as taboo. We highlight the need to further examine the intra-personal, inter-personal and inter-group factors shaping adolescents’ touch norms and behaviours. Such insights can guide educational practices and interventions aimed at fostering socio-emotional learning and well-being of individuals and inclusive communities.