20 Cuddly Hugs Facts

By James Israelsen, Associate Writer

Published September 17, 2022

When a Dutch national television program broadcast footage of an aging chimpanzee embracing a scientist who regularly cared for her, many viewers wrote to say they had been moved to tears._[4]
Chimpanzees in zoos have been observed embracing each other as they enjoy their first spring day outside._[4]
Before retiring in 2018, Arizona restaurant owner Randy Walters advertised "free hugs," on a sign posted outside his restaurants._[10]
After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, cyclist David Hale Sylvester began going on bicycling-and-hugging tours all over the world and has staged multiple "hug parties" on three different continents. As of 2021, he had hugged over half a million people._[9]
Humans hug to express a variety of emotions, including happiness, sadness, excitement, or a desire to comfort._[3]
Scientists say that hugging can help reduce stress._[3]
Research has shown that hugging and hand-holding with a romantic partner can have positive effects on a person's heart health._[3]

Hugging is beneficial on a chemical level

Because a person's levels of oxytocin rise when they hug, scientists sometimes refer to it as the "cuddle hormone."_[3]
Scientists have found that hugging a teddy bear can reduce a person's fears and anxieties about their own mortality._[3]
One family therapist has said, "We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth."_[3]
Asia, America, Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand are all known as low-contact cultures, meaning that hugging and other forms of touching are not as expected during social interaction as they are in other places, such as Latin America and the Mediterranean._[6]
When receiving hugs from others, British people feel more uncomfortable than do people from France, Italy, Russia, and Finland, who were the most comfortable with it._[8]
Affectionate touching, such as hugging, is often seen between men in Arabic countries, although it is frowned upon between non-familial members of the opposite sex._[6]
A study co-authored by researchers at Oxford University found that men are much more uncomfortable with hugging than are women._[8]
The study of touching, including hugging, as a form of nonverbal communication is called "haptics."_[6]
After being brought together following a complicated and premature delivery, a set of identical twins in Australia were photographed hugging each other._[1]

Heartwarming

Identical twins who were sharing the same amniotic sac were able to avoid death by hugging each other. Their close contact prevented the umbilical cord from twisting around their bodies._[7]
In many parts of Asia, including China and Vietnam, hugging is not very common, even between parents and their children._[6]
Although many critics voiced their suspicion that Queen Elizabeth of England was upset when then-First Lady Michelle Obama gave her a hug, one of her biographers said the Queen felt just the opposite; she was even glad to show Obama affection in return._[5]
When his previous owners paid him a visit a year after he was released back into the wild, an adult lion was caught on film jumping up on the men to give them each a hug._[2]