Hugging helps women beat stress, no effect on men: Study

According to a study, women who embraced their partner had a lower cortisol response to stress than women who did not embrace their partner.

However, the research found no stress-induced cortisol response was found in men after the embrace. The research concluded that an embrace by a romantic partner prior to a high-stress test could substantially reduce stress in women.

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The study was published in Plus One journal which said stress is one of the leading factors associated with a variety of mental disorders such as depression, burnout and anxiety disorders.

The study tested 76 participants in the age group of 22-30 years with the participants invited as romantic couples as scientists studied the short-term embrace on physiological stress response.

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The researchers said it found "no evidence that men benefitted from a short-term embrace as a potential stress buffer" with results indicating that the "effect is specific to women".

Critically, the study said amid the coronavirus pandemic there has been a substantial increase in stress and depression levels in many individuals due to economic and social restrictions.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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