London - Being busy, stressed and tired is starving people of much-needed kisses and cuddles with their loved ones, according to a new survey.
Two-thirds of those questioned in a poll commissioned by Durex in Britain, said they feel “starved” of physical affection even though they were in a happy relationship.
Three out of five people in a relationship wish they could spend more time kissing and cuddling with their partner – but almost a third of couples admitted they can go for days without touching each other.
More than 80 percent rate skin contact with their partner as important while more than half say touching and being touched makes them feel closer to their loved one.
Although women spend thousands a year on beauty treatments, the survey also revealed that their partner’s touch is actually the cheapest and most effective beauty booster.
The poll of 2 000 people in relationships found that just their partner’s touch can make 40 percent of women feel more attractive – and science supports this.
The physical effect of touch encourages increased blood flow which brings fresh nutrients to the surface of the skin, giving it a natural glow.
Many of the couples admitted that they thought regular sex was the cornerstone of a healthy relationship. But they often neglected simple daily bodily contact such as stroking, cuddling and holding hands.
Eight out of 10 of those surveyed went as far as to rate touch as the most important element in their relationship.
More than half said touching and being touched made them feel closer to their partner.
Many couples said they kissed or cuddled once or twice a day, but others admitted they could do with a lot more affection from their partner.
Of these, 32 percent said they feel their current relationship was a bit stagnant and “stuck in a rut”.
Skin intimacy specialist Abigail James said relationships and people’s well-being would benefit from increased daily affection.
She said: “There’s no doubt that touch is great for your skin. As a therapist you learn very early on the huge mental, health and beauty benefits positive touch can have.
“Having sex releases a hormone called DHEA, which is thought to increase your production of collagen and sebum which help keep skin looking youthful by making it firmer, smoother and balancing oil production.
“But just as importantly – beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and confidence is in itself beautiful.
“In other words, the more confident and gorgeous you feel about yourself, the more attractive you become to your partner.’
Susan Quilliam, a sex and relationship expert from Durex, which commissioned the survey, said: “All the research suggests that couples who reach out to each other physically feel more positive not only about themselves, but also about each other.”
Differences between the sexes according to survey
* When tired at the end of the day, men make more of an effort with affection for their partner than women.
* Women need men to be interested in what they are doing for them to be affectionate.
* Men are more likely to express their love for their partner over social media than women.
* Women regard talking and cuddles more important than men, while men rate sex and touching intimate areas more important than women.
* Women believe skin contact with their partner is more important than men do.
* Touch for men leads them to feel more relaxed and turned on. While touch also makes women relax, they feel emotionally closer to their partner.
* Being touched by their partner makes 40 percent of women feel more physically attractive, and just 30 percent of men.
* Touching and being touched increases women’s self-esteem by 40 percent and by 38 percent for men. – Daily Mail