29/10/2025
Research suggests that receiving around four hugs a day can help improve emotional well being by reducing anxiety, loneliness, and depression. The concept, inspired by therapist Virginia Satir’s famous words about the power of hugs, highlights how physical touch supports mental health. Hugs trigger the release of oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” which promotes calmness, lowers stress, and boosts mood. A 2024 meta analysis by Ruhr University Bochum and the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience found that touch based interactions like hugging ease pain and emotional distress across all ages. Scientists say simple human touch remains one of the most effective yet underused tools for healing and connection.
