According to research by American researchers, hugging can be a strengthening mechanism for our physical and mental health. Researchers have found that frequent hugs, as a form of social support, can protect us from stress, reduce the risk of infections and even reduce the severity of symptoms.
Scientists have long known that stress weakens the immune system and that people who have constant interpersonal conflicts are less able to fight viruses such as the common cold. On the other hand, it was known that social support can reduce the psychological effects of stress, such as depression and anxiety.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in the United States have linked these two ideas and asked the question: Can social support also protect us from physical illnesses caused by stress? And does hugging, one of the most obvious symbols of social support, play a role in this protection?
To answer this question, the researchers designed an interesting experiment. They studied 404 healthy adults. First, they assessed each person’s level of social support, daily conflict, and the number of times they were hugged, using questionnaires and telephone interviews. Then they deliberately exposed the participants to a common cold virus and monitored them in quarantine to see who got sick and how severe their symptoms were.
The results of the experiment were striking. Social support was found to reduce the risk of infection, especially in people who were experiencing stress from social conflict. But here’s the catch: A third of this total protective effect was directly attributable to the act of hugging itself.
What’s more, among those who did get sick, those who reported more social support and more frequent hugs experienced much milder symptoms. “This suggests that being hugged by a trusted person can serve as an effective tool for conveying support, and increasing the number of hugs may be an effective strategy for reducing the harmful effects of stress,” says the study’s lead author.
The researchers offer two possible explanations for this phenomenon. The first is that physical contact itself can have calming physiological effects and modulate the body’s response to stress. The second is that hugging is a powerful behavioral indicator of support and intimacy. Feeling supported, in turn, helps us cope better with stress and, as a result, have a stronger immune system.
Source: Digiato - Azad Kabiri