It's Official: We Should All Embrace Hugs, According To Science

Nov 15, 2018

Both scientific research and spiritual leaders agree that smiles have a magic power in boosting both your own mood and those of the people around you by opening the neural passages that benefit your health and happiness.

So, the power of the smile is there, but is there power in something even more tangible and intimate? How about a hug? Does a hug have its own superpowers? Scientists seem to think so.

Someone’s having a rough day or seems sad somehow. Without thought, you reach over and give them a hug. It’s a natural inclination for many people, and it’s something that we often offer freely and without much thought about an effect. What are the effects of a hug, though?

A new study suggests that this simplistic act may have a much more profound impact than most people imagine.

PLOS One recently published this hug study paper that measured the impact non-sexual hugs have on mood and stress following interpersonal and social conflicts. Researchers found that such hugs reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions during days that they suffer relationship problems.

Co-author of the study and researcher at Carnegie Mellon University’s Laboratory for the Study of Stress, Immunity, and Disease Michael Murphy explains that the simplicity and straightforwardness of a hug could be a very effective way to support those who experience relationship conflicts, and this is true regardless of whether the person is male or female.

Over 400 male and female adults began the study with a physical exam and health and social questionnaire. They were interviewed nightly for a period of two weeks by the researchers. Each participant was asked mood-related questions, to detail their daily experiences related to conflict, and whether or not they’d received a hug that day.

The findings of the study showed that hugs do matter. Those who didn’t experience a hug during the day were associated with an increase in negative emotions and a decline in positive mood markers. Those who did experience a hug during the day had an uptick in positive mood markers and downturn in negative emotions.

Those who experienced both relationship conflict and hugs reported more positive and less negative emotions on the days with hugs than the days without them.+

The above results remained accurate regardless of the participant’s sex, age, relationship status, ethnic group, average mood, and amount of social interaction. While the negative feelings raised more than the positive uptick, the study found that the effects of hugs even transfer over to the following day.

The crux of the study might be simplified to social support making you feel better in times of crisis or conflict. Murphy is quick, however, to point out that there’s conflicting scientific backing for this specific thought.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice support. Some studies have concluded that reactions to stress are better in cases where the person feels they have a strong, supportive, and loving social network.

Yet, other studies have shown that those receiving family and friend social support during crisis or conflict actually end up with a worsened situation from feeling judged, criticized, incompetent, or by the support group inadvertently encouraging counterproductive behaviors.

Murphy suggests that the tangible, implicitness of hug as support may moot the above contradictory information, though.

The theory being that physical touch may show care, concern, and a body of support without words leaving a door open for interpretation of judgment and other negatives.

Hugs, by being a physical touch, also are associated with positive physiological changes. Research has suggested that, like smiles, hugs stimulate the release of stress-reducing and mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain, which in turn help to slow respiration and heart rate down.

You may be one of the many people who just don’t like hugs. Science shows a plethora of rationales behind non-huggers, and even devote huggers may be highly selective in the recipient or provider of said hug.

The study didn’t make distinctions in the intricacies of who gave the hugs and how the respondent felt about the person. Murphy says that he is currently involved in a study that will isolate such granular aspects to further expound on the effect of a hug. 

The conclusion of this study, however, is that the results, although not all-encompassing, are solid enough to encourage people to reach out and hug those they see struggling as a show of support that may not be as prone to misinterpretation as verbal shows of support.

What do you think about these new findings? Do you tend to hug a lot? Let us know in the comments - and don't forget to share with your friends and family!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!