The Power of a Hug - How Touch Shapes Health and Well-Being

Touch accompanies us throughout our lives, serving as our most direct way of experiencing the world around us. It plays a significant role in our social communication: we shake hands to meet new acquaintances, hug or kiss loved ones, and typically refrain from physical contact with strangers or individuals we prefer to keep at a distance. Despite its importance in social interactions, touch has been less studied in social contexts compared to other senses, possibly due to the greater challenge of studying it in controlled laboratory settings compared to vision, hearing, or smell. 

Touch accompanies us throughout our lives. A group of people hugging | Shutterstock, Studio Romantic

We Were Born to Touch

The sense of touch is the first to develop in the womb. Between the fourth and seventh weeks of gestation, touch receptors begin forming on the skin, and the sensation of touch becomes functional shortly thereafter. Touch provides numerous emotional and physical benefits, beginning as early as infancy. A significant portion of the communication between mothers and their babies involves touch. It immediately reduces stress, soothes, and even encourages babies to smile. For healthy newborns, skin-to-skin contact alleviates pain, while for preterm infants, it promotes weight gain and reduces hospitalization time.

Toddlers who lack sufficient touch from their caregivers, or actively avoid it, are at greater risk of developing sensory processing issues, such as hypersensitivity.

A study on the effects of maternal depression during pregnancy found that the severity of the mother’s depression affected the newborn’s stress levels and negative emotions. Infants of mothers with more severe depression displayed heightened negative emotions, such as fear and anger, and struggled to regulate their feelings. However, this effect was observed only in infants who received little maternal touch after birth. Postnatal maternal touch significantly reduced the effects of prenatal maternal depression on infant development.

Touch also appears to play a role in language acquisition. Early vocabulary often includes words related to touch from the caregiver, such as names of body parts. A 2014 study demonstrated that intentional touch could help infants distinguish between words, allowing them to identify where one word ends and another begins in a stream of sounds.

Skin-to-skin contact alleviates pain. A newborn baby pressed against their father's chest | Shutterstock, Lopolo

A Hug from Infancy to Adulthood

A hug is a form of touch frequently used in social settings, whether to greet or bid farewell, or as a gesture of empathy and comfort.  Some researchers suggest that our need for hugs has evolutionary roots, playing a vital role in the survival of our species. Babies are born entirely dependent on adults for care and survival, making it essential for them to feel comfortable being held. Hugs trigger the release of hormones that promote calmness and serenity in infants. Later in life, touch and hugging continue to play an important role in strengthening interpersonal bonds. They help us form relationships and build communities, which are crucial for our long-term survival.

Hugging has a range of positive effects on our physical and emotional health. Gentle touch, such as a hug or caress, activates c-tactile receptors in the skin, which transmit neural signals to the brain's emotional processing centers and regions associated with the reward pathway. This type of touch stimulates the release of neurotransmitters and hormones, including oxytocin and endorphins. Oxytocin plays a vital role in social bonding and has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and alleviate anxiety. Endorphins alleviate pain and induce feelings of pleasure.  Additionally, gentle touch decreases levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, potentially improving thus sleep quality. Since chronic stress weakens the immune system, a good hug might enhance overall health by reducing the risk of infectious diseases and mitigating the severity of symptoms.

Recently, a group of researchers from the Netherlands conducted a meta-analysis  of 212 studies involving approximately 13,000 participants to examine how touch affects physical and mental health across different age groups. The study explored factors influencing the effectiveness of touch. “We were aware of the importance of touch as a health intervention, but despite many studies, it remained unclear how to use it optimally, what effects can be expected specifically and what the influencing factors are." explained Dr. Julian Packheiser, one of the neuroscientists involved in the study, in a press release/

Hugging has significany positive effects on physical and emotional wel-lbeing. Two people hugging | Shutterstock, PeopleImages.com - Yuri A

The Most Effective Touch

The study found that touch has a moderately positive impact across diverse populations. Forms of touch such as massage, stroking, hugging, and similar interactions were found to reduce pain, depression, and anxiety in both children and adults. Touch also facilitated weight gain in infants. These positive effects were observed in both healthy individuals and those with illnesses. Comparison of different types of touch, such as massages and hugs, did not reveal a clear preference for one over the other. However, the location of touch on the body appeared to play a significant role. Touching the head or face provided more substantial benefits than touching areas like the hand or abdomen. Frequent touch was associated with greater health benefits, but prolonged touch did not provide additional advantages. This is likely due to the adaptation of touch receptors, which reduces the sensation over time.

The researchers also investigated the potential use of touch as a therapeutic tool that does not rely on additional human resources. To this end, they reviewed studies examining non-human touch, such as interactions with objects, robots, and animals. While touch involving objects and robots had a positive effect on physical health, it did not significantly impact mental health. This might be because human touch conveys empathy, emotional support, and interpersonal connection, which can positively impact mental well-being. Even in the context of physical health, the studies included in the meta-analysis exhibited considerable variability, highlighting the need for further research to better understand and optimize these interventions.

Massage, stroking, hugging, and similar forms of touch reduced pain, depression, and anxiety in both children and adults. A woman touches the feet of a baby | Shutterstock, elenavolf

Knowing When to Touch

This meta-analysis, along with similar studies, helps identify patterns across populations, but individual responses to touch vary widely. Context and psychosocial factors significantly influence how touch is experienced. Not all touch is perceived as pleasant, and thus, not all touch has positive effects. Factors such as the facial expression of the person initiating the touch, their appearance, the level of closeness, and similar elements shape the recipient's reaction. Additionally, the recipient's attentiveness and emotional state at the time of touch can significantly influence their experience.

There are also notable gender and cultural differences in how touch is perceived. For instance, a 2020 meta-analysis by Italian researchers reviewed 13 studies involving 362 participants and found that women generally derive more enjoyment from touch than men. This difference may be attributed to hormonal factors—men have higher levels of testosterone, which is linked to reduced sensitivity to touch. Another possible explanation is the evolutionary role of females in nurturing and caring for offspring. This role begins during pregnancy, when women sense fetal movements, and continues after birth, requiring heightened sensitivity to respond to a baby's needs.

Gender and cultural differences influence how touch is perceived. Two men giving a high-five | Shutterstock, Ground Picture

A Japanese Perspective on Hugs

A 2019 study explored cultural differences in touch between Japanese and British participants using a self-reporting method. Participants identified acceptable areas of the body for touch based on different types of relationships—such as parent, partner, friend, or stranger—and rated the pleasantness of touch. The researchers found that in both cultures, stronger emotional bonds corresponded to a greater number of body areas considered acceptable for touch. However, Japanese participants reported finding touch less pleasant compared to their British counterparts. The researchers attributed this difference to the characteristics of Japanese culture, which tends to involve less physical contact.

Most studies on touch are conducted in controlled laboratory environments, which do not always reflect the natural conditions under which touch typically occurs.This presents a challenge, as numerous factors influence how we perceive touch, and not all can be replicated in a lab setting. Nevertheless, conclusions can still be drawn from the studies and observations. The overarching message is clear: physical touch has positive effects on physical and mental health—when it occurs in the appropriate context, at the right frequency, and always with consent.