The Science of Hugging

“Do you want a hug?”

Has your parent or caregiver ever said that to you when you were feeling upset? Did you take them up on that hug offer? Did it help? Can a hug really help you feel better?

It turns out, hugging really can make you happier! It’s been scientifically proven!

I know, it might not seem like there is a lot of science involved in something as simple as hugging, but there is a lot more to an embrace than meets the eye!

Why do hugs help?

For starters, hugging can help decrease feelings of stress and sadness. Scientific studies have shown that when someone Is going through some big emotions, giving them a comforting touch, like a hug, can help reduce their stress levels. It can also decrease the stress levels in the person doing the hugging! 

Hugs really can change your mood and cause you to feel happier. We have a chemical hormone in our body called oxytocin, which some scientists call the “cuddle hormone.” They call it this because the levels of oxytocin in our bodies rise when we touch someone else, or even sit near them. When oxytocin is released, stress levels go down and we get that “warm, fuzzy feeling.” The more hugging you do, the higher your levels of that cuddle hormone will be! 

Hugging can help you face your fears! Comforting touch like a hug can help raise your self-esteem, which will help you feel confident and less afraid of the challenging things around you.

Hugging is also good for your heart! Hugging can lower your heart rate and even decrease your chances of heart disease and high blood pressure! That warm feeling you get in your chest when you hug is more than just a feeling, it’s healing!

Hugging can keep you healthy and maybe even help you not get sick as often! Although you shouldn’t hug someone when you have a bad case of sniffles or especially if you have a fever, hugging when you are feeling healthy might help you avoid catching a cold or get less sick than you would if you weren’t a hugger! Hugging has the power to pump up your lymphocytes, immunoglobins, and other immune-boosting cells, which will help your body fight off a cold when it tries to invade!

Hugging helps you connect and create bonds with other people. This is why we generally have an instinct to hug the people we are closest to – our family, our friends, our teachers. And when we do hug those people, we feel even closer to them, again partially due to that “cuddle hormone” oxytocin!  Also we feel closer because when we receive or give a hug, it creates a feeling of safety and security. When we feel safe and secure around a person, we feel closer and more connected to that person. 

Hugging is another form of communication, like its own language. We can communicate with the people in our lives in many ways -through words, sounds, facial expressions, eye contact, and yes, touch! Giving someone a hug shows that you care about them, and receiving a hug shows you that you are cared for. When you hug someone you care about, your breathing even starts to connect, helping you feel less alone and more supported by the people you love.

What is the best way to hug?

There are lots of different ways to hug, and there really is no wrong way to do it! As long as you feel comfortable hugging the person, and they feel comfortable hugging you! Some studies have shown that a hug that lasts 5-10 seconds with crisscross arms is the most satisfying hug. Try it out yourself!

So, what are you waiting for? Go give your brother, sister, mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, cousin, and best friend a hug! Always ask first, and make sure to tell them how good that hug is for both of you, in more ways than one!

Happy Hugging ☺