Study: Shy Swedes are habitual huggers

AP/Yahoo ^ | Thu Nov 29, 5:09 PM ET

[martin_fierro]

Study: Shy Swedes are habitual huggers

Thu Nov 29, 5:09 PM ET

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - While Swedes have a reputation of being reserved, a new study shows they'll hug just about anyone except their boss. Nine out of 10 Swedes embrace somebody at least once a week, with women aged 30-44 being the most active huggers, according to the study presented Thursday by the Swedish Red Cross.

About 70 percent of the 1,036 people interviewed between Nov. 5-8 said they had hugged their partner or spouse that week, while 59 percent said they had hugged a friend or acquaintance.

One-quarter had hugged a work colleague of the same sex, while 14 percent had embraced a co-worker of the opposite gender.

Only 4 percent hugged their boss.

The study by the Synovate polling institute also found that there is a certain etiquette to Swedish hugging traditions.

More than 80 percent said it was appropriate to hug a person in mourning, while 55 percent said they would hug a stranger who had just found their wallet.

Sixty percent said hugging a vague acquaintance at a party was not OK.

[martin_fierro]

Don’t Stand So Close To Me.

[martin_fierro]

Tagline Correction

[NonValueAdded]

Be still my heart ... now where can I find the Bikini Team?

[GOP Poet]

They sound like real sweedies :-). I admire people that hug others authentically. Remember the study done that said we actually increase fighter cell production as a result of more touch. The Sweedies know what they are doing . . . increasing others health and their own too.

[GOP Poet]

Last time I saw them they were in North County San Diego healthfully recovering from eating disorders and doing very well. I am referring to the two blondes with the bikinis from Sweden. Maybe this is different then the Swedish Bikini Team. I thought they were the same, but I don’t pay that much attention being a lady and all :-).

[ThomasThomas]

It is cold there. duh

[Thrownatbirth]

I’m going to the far side of sauna, thank you.

[ovrtaxt]

Moral of the story- don’t hire a Swede. You’ll be hug deprived.

[WesternCulture]

“Be still my heart ... now where can I find the Bikini Team?”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1818261/posts

[WesternCulture]

At least it’s common for Swedish women to hug and kiss each other on the cheek. Saw a lot of that last evening at a very nice Austrian restaurant here in Göteborg/Gothenburg where I had dinner.

Mr. Ingvar Kamprad, founder and sole owner of IKEA, said in an interview some years ago that he had picked up the habit of hugging people around him after spending a lot of time in Poland. Maybe it was the Poles who started it all?