A hug a day to keep stress at bay

We all know how good a hug is if we’re feeling low or stressed, but now researchers say hugging it out before the end of a day, after conflict with a colleague at work, may ease the pain.

It’s thought those who commonly engage in interpersonal touch enjoy better physical and psychological health and improved relationships, but now hugs are being touted by US researchers as helping buffer against the harmful consequences of psychological stress from conflict in interpersonal relationships – on the day in question – and reduce the negative feelings following an incident.

PLoS ONE Journal, September 2018