Women who hugged their partner subsequently had lower stress-induced cortisol response (Hugging women did not help men’s stress response)

Medical Xpress / Public Library of Science / PLOS ONE ^ | May 18, 2022 | Gesa Berretz et al

[ConservativeMind]

Women instructed to embrace their romantic partner prior to undergoing a stressful experience had a lower biological stress response—as indicated by levels of the stress hormone cortisol in saliva—compared to women who did not embrace their partner. This effect was not seen for men.

In some settings, social touch may buffer against stress. Previous research has shown that massages, embraces combined with hand-holding, and embraces combined with affectionate communication can all reduce signs of stress in women. However, few studies have investigated these effects in men, nor have they explored the effects of brief embraces on their own.

To explore potential stress-reducing effects of embracing, Berretz and colleagues conducted an analysis of 76 people in romantic relationships. All participants underwent a stress-inducing test in which they were asked to keep one hand in an ice-water bath for three minutes while being observed and maintaining eye contact with a camera. Prior to this test, half of the couples were instructed to embrace, and the others did not embrace. The researchers measured various indicators of stress, including participants' salivary cortisol levels, before and after the experiment.

Statistical analysis revealed that women who embraced their partner had a lower cortisol response to the stress test than women who did not embrace their partner. However, for men, no associations were observed between embrace and stress-induced cortisol response. Other measures of stress did not show any associations with partner embrace.

These results suggest that a brief embrace with a romantic partner might subsequently reduce the cortisol response for women facing stressful social situations, such as school exams, job interviews, or presentations. Further research could investigate whether this benefit extends to embraces with platonic friends.

The authors add, "As a woman, hugging your romantic partner can prevent the acute stress response of your body."

[ConservativeMind]

Hugging helps women feel less pain, but men felt the full pain from the ice bath, despite the hugs.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Scarlett156]

Hugging can help with detection of weapons.

[lee martell]

SO the study is saying women seem to derive greater overall physical benefit from hugs and massages compared to men who received the same treatmemts.
Could it possibly be that the Me-2 Movement still has the average man more wary about social touching than the average woman?

[Big Red Badger]

Real Men Hug Beer!

[lepton]

Cursing seems to help endure the pain from a hand held in an ice-bath.

[LukeL]

One thing that helps with the ice water hand soak is swearing. Scientists have also found shouting random words does nothing, it must be curse words.

[Tupelo]

RE: Women who hugged their partner subsequently had lower stress-induced cortisol response (Hugging women did not help men’s stress response)

Well, I can guaran-damn-tee, hugging men will not help men’s stress response.
Plus I suspect the lower stress response would depend on the woman I was hugging.
Like say Ann Margaret back around 1970 or so.

[Born in 1950]

The last thing I remember, doc, is pushing myself away from the table.

[Steely Tom]

How did the researchers know they were women?

[Sparticus]

For it to be effective for men, it needs to be naked hugging.

[Rebelbase]

Were I Bill i'd be taking Quaaludes after hugging the beast.

[Big Red Badger]

I’m in Arizona,
Open Carry!

[Varsity Flight]

✔

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

These were partners they were already intimate with not just random people.

For myself I find hugging my husband is great stress relief at any time.

[lee martell]

If a hug from your husband still brings you comfort and relief, ‘science says’ that means he is still Your Valentine.

[\/\/ayne]

[OrangeHoof]

I have told women that I suffer from HDS - “Hug Deficit Syndrome”. Sometimes, it works.

[Savage Beast]

It certainly helps my stress response, and I’m a man!

[SamAdams76]

Could it possibly be that the Me-2 Movement still has the average man more wary about social touching than the average woman?

That is certainly a concern for me as a man. I will never initiate a hug with a woman (aside from wife and close friends/family) out of fear of it being misinterpreted as sexual harassment or some such.

Women need not have the same concerns. Which is probably why it is stress-reducing for them. For a man, it can be stress-inducing!

Thanks for creating that ugly climate all you "feminists" out there.