Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42334701›Full record

ArticleEating and weight disorders : EWD2026

Affective-touch experiences and interpersonal space in anorexia nervosa.

Federica Toppino, Benedetta Salis, Eugenio Scaliti, Francesco Bevione, Matteo Panero, Annalisa Brustolin, Giovanni Abbate-Daga, Paola Longo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Eating and weight disorders : EWD, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Federica ToppinoEating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 11, 10126, Turin, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1524-1272
Benedetta SalisEating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 11, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Eugenio ScalitiHuman Science and Technology, University of Turin, Vicolo Cesare Benevello 3a, 10124, Turin, Italy.
Francesco BevioneEating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 11, 10126, Turin, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1992-5460
Matteo PaneroEating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 11, 10126, Turin, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9385-0332
Annalisa BrustolinEating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 11, 10126, Turin, Italy.
Giovanni Abbate-DagaEating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 11, 10126, Turin, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5826-5664
Paola LongoEating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 11, 10126, Turin, Italy. paola.longo@unito.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1347-7054

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe present study explored affective touch in anorexia nervosa (AN) by: (a) comparing patients with AN and healthy control subjects (HCs) on the quality and quantity of affective-touch experiences across the lifespan; (b) investigating the association between affective touch and body-image-related symptoms; (c) assessing the link between affective touch and interpersonal space (IPS).

methodsParticipants (76 patients with AN and 77 HCs) completed self-report questionnaires measuring eating-related symptoms, anxiety, depression, and affective-touch experiences. IPS was assessed with a computer-based stop-distance task with different social conditions.

resultsPatients with AN had higher general (i.e., anxiety and depression), and body-image-related (e.g., body checking, body dissatisfaction) symptoms than HCs; moreover, they reported lower quantity of affective touch both in childhood and adulthood and less comfort with affective touch, with a medium to large effect size; more frequent negative affective-touch experiences were also observed in patients than in HCs, with a medium effect size. In patients, lower experienced affective touch, both in childhood and adulthood, and reduced touch-related comfort were associated with larger IPS, independent of anxiety and depression, and with a high effect size after statistical adjustment. No associations with IPS emerged in HCs.

conclusionsThe results highlighted a link between negative and reduced affective touch and social difficulties and avoidance in AN. The study remarks the relevance of affective-touch experiences and their relation with implicit body-related mechanisms, suggesting addressing early tactile experiences and interpersonal functioning in clinical interventions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case-control study based on self-report questionnaires and a behavioral task.

Indexed as

AffectAnorexia NervosaBody ImageInterpersonal RelationsTouchAdolescentAdultAnxietyBody SatisfactionCase-Control StudiesDepressionFemaleHumansSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAffective touchAnorexia nervosaBodily self-consciousnessBody imageInterpersonal avoidanceInterpersonal space

Identifiers

PMID42334701
PMCPMC13541973

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.