If you aren't the touchy-feely type, and physical touch definitely isn't your love language, you may cringe at the idea of holding your partner's hand during a fight. However, studies show that holding hands during an argument can create a calming and positive effect both during and after the fight. A study conducted by the University of Amsterdam, which researched 100 couples, found that holding hands during a fight leads to calmer communication (via Sunny 99.1), and when the fight ended, both parties experienced heightened positivity.
Another study by the University of Colorado, Boulder, found that touching your partner can literally "sync" up your brainwaves and reduce pain (via Healthline). Although the pain in this specific study focused on physical pain, the correlation between touch and distress is quite remarkable and can be compared to mental and emotional distress as well.
"We live in an interesting time because we use technology as a communication tool most of the time, and physical contact has become rarer," Pavel Goldstein, the study's lead author, told Healthline. "This study shows the importance of touch and that [it's possible] we underestimate some benefits of physical contact." While fights feel icky in the moment, they can make both parties feel more connected by the end, especially if hand-holding is involved.
