The Power of Hugs - Central Coast Sports College (2024)

FAQs

What is the power of a 20 second hug? ›

A 20-second hug reduces the harmful effects of stress, relieves blood pressure, and ensures a healthy heart. Increasing the hug ratio results in reduced blood pressure, decreased cortisol, improved healing, reduced cravings, and better immunity.

Hugging helps lower our stress throughout the day.

Like so many other unseen benefits, this all goes back to good ol' hormones. Some researchers believe that hugging and other interpersonal touch can boost a hormone called oxytocin and also affect our endogenous opioid system.

Research shows that when we experience affectionate touch like hugs, areas of the brain that are involved in our “fight or flight” and stress response such as the sympathetic nervous system are deactivated and fewer stress hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine are released.

Psychologists in London claim they have cracked the code on the ideal embrace, saying hugs should last between five and 10 seconds. According to researchers at Goldsmiths university, longer hugs were found to provide an immediate pleasure boost compared to shorter ones (lasting just one second).

Hanning described findings that four hugs per day was an antidote for depression, eight hugs per day would achieve mental stability and twelve hugs per day would achieve real psychological growth. If this is the case, touch has a greater significance than most of us would realise.

So the more hugs you complete, the more endorphins released. The more the merrier. In looking a little deeper into the neuroscience behind hugs, it was also noted that hugging releases the hormone oxytocin. This elevation in oxytocin can support not only heart health but its also known to create feelings of happiness.

Remember touch is essential and there is no substitution for a great big hug! As author and family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth”.

t's been proven that when you hug somebody for at least 6 SECONDS, your body releases SEROTONIN and OXYTOCIN. After a 10-SECOND HUG, that release becomes a chemical flood for you and the person you're hugging. The best part is that it COSTS NOTHING, yet that one simple act can mean everything.

Some of the neurochemicals include the hormone oxytocin, which plays an important role in social bonding, slows down heart rate, and reduces stress and anxiety levels. The release of endorphins in the brain's reward pathways supports the immediate feelings of pleasure and well-being derived from a hug or caress.

Flirting The person you're hugging may be trying to tell you that they're interested. The tight hug could be their way of saying: “I want to be closer to you”, while they press their body up against yours. If they're looking at your face and then smile and close their eyes, that could be a sign they're trying to flirt.

What does it mean when a guy hugs you for more than 5 seconds? ›

It's his way of telling you that he wants to be physically close to you and doesn't want you to let him go. As such, longer and tighter hugs signal intense feelings, and they demonstrate commitment when done in public.

“When we did this second study, we talked to people,” she says. “They'd often say 'Oh yeah, the neck-waist feels a bit more intimate. '” In total, the results suggest the safest, most likely to be pleasant hug is one that's 5 to 10 seconds long with crisscrossed arms.

Research shows that hugging (or any welcomed touch), lowers heart rate and blood pressure, lessens depression and anxiety, boosts the immune system, and even relieves pain. Hugging, cuddling, and even hand holding can release endorphins and hormones such as serotonin and oxytocin.

Yes, 30 seconds can make a world of difference! When you hug someone you trust, your body releases oxytocin, often referred to as the "cuddle hormone." This hormone plays a key role in reducing stress, lowering cortisol levels, and promoting feelings of relaxation and well-being.

Hugging for just 10 seconds can boost feel-good hormones like oxytocin. Often called the “love hormone,” it fights stress chemicals and helps lower blood pressure. Looking for a good reason to hug someone? There are many.

A hug helps us bond with others and experience a sense of safety, comfort, empathy, and calm, qualities many deeply craved during a time of uncertainty.