Women who embraced their romantic partner subsequently had lower stress-induced cortisol response. But partner embrace did not buffer the response to stress for men.
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. Gesa Berretz of Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, and colleagues present these findings today (May 18, 2022) in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
Social Touch as a Stress Buffer
In some situations, social touch may buffer against stress. Previous research has demonstrated 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 hugs on their own.
To explore the potential stress-reducing effects of embracing, Berretz and colleagues conducted an analysis of 76 people in romantic relationships. All of the 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.
Lower Cortisol Levels in Women, But Not Men
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 including changes in blood pressure and emotional state 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 also call for research into related effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such investigations could explore whether social restrictions that reduced social touch may be associated with observed increases in stress and depression during the pandemic.
The authors add: “As a woman, hugging your romantic partner can prevent the acute stress response of your body.”
Reference: “Romantic partner embraces reduce cortisol release after acute stress induction in women but not in men” by Gesa Berretz, Chantal Cebula, Blanca Maria Wortelmann, Panagiota Papadopoulou, Oliver T. Wolf, Sebastian Ocklenburg and Julian Packheiser, 18 May 2022, PLOS ONE.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266887
Funding: O.T.W. is financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (project number: 400672603; grant: WO733/18-1). S.O. is financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (project number: 400672603, OC127/9-1). J.P. was financially supported by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (LPDS 2021-05) and received his salary from this organization. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors acknowledge support by the DFG Open Access Publication Funds of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Never miss a breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter.
Follow us on Google and Google News.
17 Comments
What sexist bullcrap!
As psychologist, both genders have a lower cortisol response.
We observed nearly 500 people. How many did you test?
You’re not a psychologist and you didn’t repeat the experiment. Snap back to reality.
Our study – https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614559284
Provide all information stating you did a research using 500 people like you said, otherwise stop trying to cause problems. There’s already enough sexist crap around do to people like you.
Your life must be sad to carry so much anger? Replied above.
Cultural or other demographic differences maybe? This study was conducted in Germany but can’t see where yours was conducted.
I’m not a researcher but I agree with your statement.
Wow! expression something good turns bad. What is the sexist objection anyway, it showed promise for woman but not men, or what?
It’s obvious the arguing commmenters didn’t get a hug because there stress levels seem rather abnormal.
Maybe you two shoukd see a psychologist or counselor.
As to this studies vagueness which excluded the participates sexual preference that leaned toward a heterosexual cortisol study.
They also excluded personality types that could explain the text subjects coldness.
I agree with your last paragraph!
Is this only true for cis gendered women?
Was this all or mostly straight men? Did the researchers investigate if social conditioning plays a role in the intensity of the stress response suppresion of physical touch?
As a man in his 50’s, I have spent my life protecting my wife and my children. I hug them to reassure them. Not to be reassured. I know there is a storm coming. I hug them and tell them everything is going to be all right, even when I harbor serious doubts about that. I am not reassured, but I hope that they are. This may partially explain some if there findings.
As a woman in her early 60’s hugs are precious gifts—although small and short lived still a gift to give to those you love even if for a brief moment. It’s very sad when one can’t just live and enjoy the small moments of life and love and appreciate each of them as if it could be your last. Because it can. Enjoy every moment and love much. ❤️
This is not rocket science. Women are socialized to please men. If they hug first, they can feel less stressful when commenting on the conflict. Men don’t have the same expectations and the hug probably confuses them whenever the woman launches into an analysis of perceived conflict after a hug.
Was this study limited to heterosexuals? If so, it’s really not an accurate picture of men, women or couples. It’s merely a snapshot of heterosexuality and its compatability issues.
Just another way to separate genders. I know a hug makes me feel better and more relaxed. So, I don’t believe on word of the “study”.