Brief Report: The Effectiveness of Hugging a Huggable Device Before Having a Conversation with an Unfamiliar Person for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Hirokazu Kumazaki; Hidenobu Sumioka; Taro Muramatsu; Yuichiro Yoshikawa; Jiro Shimaya; Ryoichiro Iwanaga; Hiroshi Ishiguro; Tomiki Sumiyoshi; Masaru Mimura

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05173-8

Brief Report: The Effectiveness of Hugging a Huggable Device Before Having a Conversation with an Unfamiliar Person for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Hirokazu Kumazaki, Hidenobu Sumioka, Taro Muramatsu, Yuichiro Yoshikawa, Jiro Shimaya, Ryoichiro Iwanaga, Hiroshi Ishiguro, Tomiki Sumiyoshi, Masaru Mimura

Department of Psychiatry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Sensory overresponsivity (SOR) emerges before anxiety and positively predicts subsequent increasing levels of anxiety in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sensory seeking behavior occurs as compensation for SOR, and individuals may seek sensory input in one sensory domain to compensate for SOR. Tactile seeking behavior is sufficient to decrease social anxiety in communicating with unfamiliar people. We assessed the effectiveness of hugging a huggable device before a conversation for reducing the psychological stress associated with speaking to an unfamiliar person or robot. Our analysis showed a significant effect, with Hugvie contributing to decreased stress for both interlocutors. Thus, this study demonstrated the efficacy of hugging it before conversation, which emphasizes the importance of tactile seeking for individuals with ASD.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3294-3303
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume	52
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05173-8
Publication status	Published - 2022 Jul

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorders
Robot
Sensory over-responsivity
Sensory seeking
Social anxiety
Tactile

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology

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10.1007/s10803-021-05173-8

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Kumazaki, H., Sumioka, H., Muramatsu, T., Yoshikawa, Y., Shimaya, J., Iwanaga, R., Ishiguro, H., Sumiyoshi, T., & Mimura, M. (2022). Brief Report: The Effectiveness of Hugging a Huggable Device Before Having a Conversation with an Unfamiliar Person for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(7), 3294-3303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05173-8

Kumazaki, H, Sumioka, H, Muramatsu, T, Yoshikawa, Y, Shimaya, J, Iwanaga, R, Ishiguro, H, Sumiyoshi, T & Mimura, M 2022, 'Brief Report: The Effectiveness of Hugging a Huggable Device Before Having a Conversation with an Unfamiliar Person for Autism Spectrum Disorders', Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol. 52, no. 7, pp. 3294-3303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05173-8

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abstract = "Sensory overresponsivity (SOR) emerges before anxiety and positively predicts subsequent increasing levels of anxiety in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sensory seeking behavior occurs as compensation for SOR, and individuals may seek sensory input in one sensory domain to compensate for SOR. Tactile seeking behavior is sufficient to decrease social anxiety in communicating with unfamiliar people. We assessed the effectiveness of hugging a huggable device before a conversation for reducing the psychological stress associated with speaking to an unfamiliar person or robot. Our analysis showed a significant effect, with Hugvie contributing to decreased stress for both interlocutors. Thus, this study demonstrated the efficacy of hugging it before conversation, which emphasizes the importance of tactile seeking for individuals with ASD.",

keywords = "Autism spectrum disorders, Robot, Sensory over-responsivity, Sensory seeking, Social anxiety, Tactile",

author = "Hirokazu Kumazaki and Hidenobu Sumioka and Taro Muramatsu and Yuichiro Yoshikawa and Jiro Shimaya and Ryoichiro Iwanaga and Hiroshi Ishiguro and Tomiki Sumiyoshi and Masaru Mimura",

note = "Funding Information: We have no financial relationships to disclose. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the participants. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",

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Brief Report: The Effectiveness of Hugging a Huggable Device Before Having a Conversation with an Unfamiliar Person for Autism Spectrum Disorders

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ASJC Scopus subject areas

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