Authors : Sanjana Shankar; Aastha Govind Shirodker; Bharti Pathania

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 7 - July

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5dxj697v

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/5bs7ymd6

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jul302

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Aim- This study aims to examine the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and tactile perception development, and its impact on the psychosocial development of children. Background- Touch is the first sense to develop in a fetus, due to which tactile perception holds primary importance in development. Tactile receptors are fired upon experiencing different kinds of touch, such as affective (affectionate) touch, functional touch, firm touch, rough handling, etc., which facilitates tactile perception development. Lack of exposure to affective touch has adverse effects on holistic development, resulting in potential impairments in sensory perception. Methodology- This paper follows a conceptual review methodology. Studies were scouted from different research databases such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, PubMed, etc., using keywords such as ‘parent-child relationship’, ‘sensory modulation’, ‘emotional availability’, ‘affective touch’, etc. The findings were synthesized to develop a conceptual framework, representing the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and altered sensory processing. Results and Discussion- Touch deprivation was identified to be the leading cause of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety in adolescents, as well as problems associated with sensory processing, perception of affective touch, and attachment. Conclusion- Despite the presence of methodological constraints, the implications of the proposed framework may be profound in terms of designing interventions, in the context of tactile sensory perception and impairment.

Keywords : Childhood Experiences, Emotional Unavailability, Tactile Perception.

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