Touch is essential to human survival.
Infants left well fed and diapered but never cuddled have been found to die.
Our skin is our largest organ.
Some of us are more touchy-feely than others and if you are one with a high touch need being isolated from skin-to-skin contact leaves a void.
Even having an animal to pet can lengthen the life of an elderly person.
Premature babies thrive when placed skin to skin on their mother or father's chest long before they are stable enough to feed. Often, they are still on a respirator when such "Kangaroo Care" is initiated. They settle down quickly into deeper REM sleep and use fewer calories crying and wiggling thus allowing for better growth.