A kiss is an intimate interaction that has long symbolized romance. However, many fail to recognize the nonverbal communication inherent in kissing, as well as its health benefits. According to the findings of the Western Journal of Communication, kissing is positively associated with relationship satisfaction and with reductions in cholesterol and perceived stress. In other words, kissing has physiological and psychological effects that manifest in observable differences in health, stress and interpersonal connections. With Valentine’s Day, the day of romance, quickly approaching, this research begs the question: Should intimate connections be celebrated and prioritized every day of the year rather than reinforced one day of the year surrounding a sales-hungry holiday?
Let’s review the facts.
The Western Journal of Communication reports that kissing decreases the body’s overall lipid production. Lipids function as the body’s energy reserve, but when in high quantities can result in cholesterol, a threatening buildup impeding blood flow in the body. Therefore, kissing can play a supporting role in the health of romantic couples. It is important to note, however, that while it would be ideal to heal all health ailments with a kiss, this does not replace medical care or become an end-all and be-all cure for cholesterol. That being said, increased kissing frequency does correlate with positive physiological effects. Perhaps affectionate behavior should be celebrated and encouraged throughout the year, rather than isolated moments of publicized romance like Valentine’s Day.
Furthermore, the study emphasizes the relationship between kissing and stress, suggesting that increased kissing is associated with lower perceived stress. Perceived stress refers to the subjective dimension of stress that one experiences. According to the research, this internal perception was mitigated through increased kissing over a six-week period. This observation highlights the importance of relational messaging and intimacy on psychological experience. If your partner seems a little stressed lately, maybe you can suggest a kiss!
It is important to remember that nonverbal behaviors articulate relational messages that can affect relationship outcomes. According to the Western Journal of Communication, the experimental group that increased the frequency of kissing noticed greater relationship satisfaction. Many confounding variables were analyzed to see if there were any other factors that may be causing this effect. However, relational messaging, such as saying “I love you,” or a decrease in conflict, was not considered a confounding factor. This suggests that, in this experiment, kissing alone had a positive effect on relational well-being. In fact, intimate actions such as kissing can affect feelings of closeness and fulfillment within a relationship. Therefore, it is important to maintain consistent intimacy within relationships, rather than on a single day each year.
So, while you might be counting down the days until February 14th, it is important to remember that all kisses count. While intimacy, love and romance are explored more intensely and represented more publicly through media and sales on Valentine’s Day, there still exists a quiet intimacy and positivity to the everyday kiss. The limitation of romantic expression to a couple of days in the year could simultaneously limit the positive outcomes of kissing. Therefore, I propose that romantic connections be celebrated every day with a kiss!