The Science of Hugs

by | Apr 15, 2025 | Blog, Education, eQuoo, Mental Wellbeing, PsycApps, Student Resources

The Science of Hugs

How Oxytocin Helps You Manage Stress

A warm hug can do more than just make you feel good,  it can actually improve your mental health. At the heart of this phenomenon is oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” which plays a crucial role in stress management and emotional well-being. But how does something as simple as a hug impact the brain and body, and how can we harness this knowledge to improve resilience against stress?

What is Oxytocin?

Oxytocin is a hormone and neurotransmitter produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. It is primarily known for its role in bonding, between mothers and infants, romantic partners, and even friends. However, oxytocin also plays a key role in reducing the psychological and physiological effects of stress.

When you hug someone, oxytocin levels rise, promoting feelings of trust, calmness, and connectedness. But the benefits go far beyond fleeting feelings of warmth.

How Hugs Reduce Stress: The Mind-Body Connection

Stress isn’t just about how you feel emotionally, it affects your entire body. When you experience stress, your body activates the fight or flight response, releasing cortisol and adrenaline. While these hormones are essential in short bursts, chronic stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and even heart disease.

Oxytocin vs Cortisol: Balancing the Scales

Oxytocin is a natural stress regulator. When released during hugging or other forms of physical touch, it:

  • Reduces Cortisol Levels: Oxytocin lowers cortisol, the primary stress hormone, helping to calm the body.
  • Lowers Blood Pressure: Studies show that regular hugs are linked to reduced blood pressure, which can improve heart health.
  • Enhances Emotional Resilience: Oxytocin promotes feelings of calm and safety, making it easier to cope with life’s challenges.

According to a study from University College London, individuals who received more frequent hugs reported lower stress levels and better overall well-being.

The Psychological Impact of Hugs

Hugs do more than calm the body,  they also improve psychological well-being.

  • Boosts Social Bonding: Oxytocin strengthens relationships, which are vital for emotional support during stressful times.
  • Improves Mood: Oxytocin release is linked to increased feelings of happiness and reduced symptoms of depression.
  • Reduces Perceived Threats: Physical touch lowers activity in the amygdala, the brain’s fear centre, making everyday stressors feel more manageable.

The Mental Health Foundation highlights the importance of social bonding in maintaining mental well-being.

Why Physical Touch Matters More Than Ever

In a world where digital communication is replacing face-to-face interaction, physical touch is becoming increasingly rare. Research shows that touch deprivation can contribute to loneliness, anxiety, and even weakened immunity.

A survey by Mind, found that one in four adults felt touch-deprived, which correlated with higher levels of stress and anxiety.

However, building resilience isn’t just about physical touch,  it requires psychological tools that help manage stress in all aspects of life.

Invest in Resilience

Hugs might be a quick fix for short-term stress relief, but for lasting resilience, you need a comprehensive approach. The PsycApps CPD-Certified Resilience Development Programme offers a powerful, evidence-based solution to help you build mental strength, improve emotional regulation, and reduce stress.

Why This Programme is a Smart Investment:

  • Evidence-Based Psychology: Uses techniques grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and positive psychology to promote healthier thought patterns.
  • Builds Long-Term Resilience: Unlike quick fixes, this programme focuses on developing sustainable coping mechanisms that last.
  • Tailored Support: Provides personalised feedback to address specific stress triggers unique to each user.
  • CPD-Certified: This means the programme meets the highest standards of professional development.

Real Results That Speak for Themselves

  • Significant Reduction in Stress: Users report lower cortisol levels and greater emotional resilience.
  • Improved Coping Skills: 9 out of 10 users felt more confident in handling daily stressors.
  • Better Mental Health: Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, leading to improved overall well-being.

The PsycApps Resilience Development Programme isn’t just another app, it’s an investment in your future well-being.

Conclusion

The science is clear: hugs aren’t just comforting, they are biologically and psychologically beneficial. By promoting the release of oxytocin, they help manage stress, improve emotional well-being, and strengthen social bonds. But for lasting resilience, combining psychological tools with daily well-being habits is key.

The PsycApps CPD-Certified Resilience Development Programme offers a proven, long-term solution for managing stress and enhancing resilience. Whether through the warmth of a hug or the power of psychological tools, taking proactive steps towards better mental health is an investment worth making.

Explore our CPD-Certified Resilience Development Programme to start your journey today.

Please try again.
Your submission has been successful.

How Communities Heal Together After Racial Violence

When it comes to racial trauma, healing must be communal.

The Impact of Trauma on Memory and Identity

One of trauma’s most insidious effects is on memory. Rather than being stored as coherent stories, traumatic experiences often get lodged in the brain.

What Resilience Really Looks Like After Trauma

Resilience is often celebrated as a clean, triumphant arc. In reality, it’s much messier, and far more human.

From Breakdown to Breakthrough

We tend to think of breakdowns as endings. But what if they’re also invitations to evolve?

10 Everyday Habits That Build Resilience at Work

10 everyday habits that build emotional and psychological resilience at work…no yoga mat or inspirational quote required.

Building Emotional Resilience in the Face of Job Insecurity

Whether it’s a departmental shake-up, funding cuts, outsourcing, or whispers of mergers and downsizing, the psychological impact of job insecurity is profound.

Long-Term Absence to Full Engagement

Returning to work after a long-term absence, whether due to illness, injury, mental health challenges, or caregiving responsibilities, is a significant transition.

The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Resilience in Workforce Re-entry

When resilience isn’t part of that journey, the risks go far beyond job vacancies left unfilled.

Micro-Stressors, Macro Impact

Micro-stressors are the subtle, often overlooked pressures that occur regularly throughout the day. They’re not full-blown crises.

Why Gen Z Is Facing a Mental Health Crisis

Gen Z , are the most digitally connected, socially conscious, and culturally adaptive generation in history.

Privacy Overview
PsycApps logo

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Additional Cookies

This website uses the following additional cookies:

(List the cookies that you are using on the website here.)