Quickie: The Real Reason Your Partner Won’t Hug You
Sometimes an embrace isn’t all that comforting
You have a rough day ahead and you’re stressed out. Maybe you have an interview for a dream job and you’re worried you won’t land it. Maybe you have a doctor’s appointment that has you on edge. Maybe you’re just generally feeling anxious about tackling the day. Whatever the case, your partner gives you a hug and your stress seems to just melt away as you feel their arms around you.
Sounds like the perfect way to feel better in the face of stress, right?
Not necessarily.
“As a woman, hugging your romantic partner can prevent the acute stress response of your body.”
According to a study published in PLOS ONE, this scenario only works for women because during times of stress, women’s bodies experience a cortisol response — which is associated with stress — that is much lower when they receive a hug than when they don’t.
“As a woman, hugging your romantic partner can prevent the acute stress response of your body,” researchers explained.
The same cannot be said for men, however. During their research, study authors measured the stress levels of 76 people in romantic…
