Overview

• Large-scale analysis reveals touch interventions significantly improve both physical and mental health across all ages.
• The frequency of touch interventions, rather than the duration or source, has the most substantial impact on well-being.
• Human touch is crucial for mental health, while object or robot touch can also significantly improve physical health.
• Parental touch has a particularly positive effect on newborns, suggesting its potential to support infant health in critical situations.
• Future research should explore lesser-known areas such as animal touch, touch across ages, and specific clinical settings.