Hugs can help protect against conflict-related distress

According to a study published October 3 in the open access journal, receiving cuddles could serve as a buffer against harmful mood changes associated with interpersonal conflict. PLOS ONE by Michael Murphy of Carnegie Mellon University, along with co-authors Denise Janicki-Deverts and Sheldon Cohen.

People who engage more frequently in interpersonal relationships enjoy better physical and psychological health and better relationships. Theorists have suggested that interpersonal contact benefits well-being by helping to protect oneself from the harmful consequences of psychological stress, and that contact could be a particularly effective means of protecting interpersonal conflict. This possibility has important potential implications for health and wellbeing because conflicts with others are associated with a wide range of adverse psychological and physical consequences. However, the possibility of generalizing previous research on this topic is limited because studies have largely focused on the role of touch in romantic relationships.

In the new study, Murphy and his colleagues focused on hugging, a relatively common supportive behavior that individuals have with a wide range of social partners. The researchers interviewed 404 adult men and women each night for 14 consecutive days about their conflicts, receptions, and their positive and negative states of mind. Receiving a hug on the day of conflict was simultaneously associated with a decrease in positive emotions and a lesser increase in negative emotions. The effects of hugs may have also persisted, with respondents reporting continued negative moods the next day.

Although correlational, these results support the hypothesis that protection against deleterious changes in the effect associated with the experience of interpersonal conflict. Although further research is needed to determine the possible mechanisms, the authors suggest, the findings from the large community sample suggest that hugs could be a simple but effective method of providing support to men and women in distress. interpersonal.

Murphy adds, "This research is still in its infancy, we still have questions about when, how and for whom hugs are most useful, but our study suggests that consensual hugs may be helpful in showing support to someone who is not. One who endures in a conflict of couple. "

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More information:
Murphy, MLM, Janicki-Deverts, Cohen, S (2018) The receipt of a hug is associated with the mitigation of the negative mood that occurs on days of interpersonal conflict. PLoS ONE 13 (10): e0203522. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203522