Why Are Hugs Important?
Two people who want to show affection often engage in a hug. Hugs encourage intimacy, build relationships and lift spirits. People who hug frequently enjoy happier relationships, better moods, lower blood pressure and less stress than those who hug on an irregular basis, according to a University of North Carolina study by researcher Karen Grewen.
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Children
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Hugs help a mother and baby bond. When a caretaker envelops an infant in a hug, it provides the infant with signals of safety. Frequent hugs help encourage healthy emotional and physical development. As a child ages, hugs help build the emotional connection between parent and child. Children feel loved and learn the tools of healthy emotional expression when their parents provide frequent hugs. Family therapist Virgina Star suggests that 12 hugs a day lead to the greatest happiness and personal growth.
Romance
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According to U.K.-based Dr. Miriam Stoppard, hugs lead to a happy, healthy romantic relationship. When you envelop your partner in a hug, she feels safe, loved and appreciated. Frequent hugs communicate affection and indicate to your partner that you still desire a physical relationship. Within a romantic relationship, hugs encourage intimacy and help lift the spirits of a partner who feels down.
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Oxytocin
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Hugs raise your body's level of oxytocin, a hormone that encourages bonding. Typically, oxytocin releases in the body just after a woman gives birth and while a woman breastfeeds. The hormone encourages bonding between a mother and her child. A University of Claremont study suggests that men and women with higher levels of oxytocin enjoy greater satisfaction with their lives than those with low levels of the hormone. The study also suggested that oxytocin encourages bonding, empathy and feelings of trust in women and men.
Health
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According to a study by University of Carolina, a long hug causes drops in levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress. Blood pressure drops, breathing slows and pulse speed decreases. Over time, frequent hugs keep blood pressure low and increase the health of your heart. The positive emotions created by hugs decrease stress, creating a number of health benefits. A Chapel Hill study suggests that emotional support from a loved one increases heart health.
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