Research Hit: Cuddles Do Improve Wellbeing (and Sports Performance)

What more on cuddling you’ve just written abut this!

Yes, I spoke of cuddling in this research hit and how cuddling, and specifically oxytocin (which is released during cuddling), can improve memory.

Now two other pieces of research have also come across my radar which specially look at physical contact and relate this to physical wellbeing, to psychological wellbeing, and to sports performance.

Ok that sounds interesting. Tell me more!

This was a systematic review and meta analysis by Julian Packheiser et al of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience. Basically they reviewed the current state of research and conclusions of this. This provides a much more accurate view of this than a single study.

And the results?

Well, the good news is that physical touch improves both physical and mental wellbeing. So being touched, being cuddled, or stroked is beneficial to us human beings.

You said the “good news” is there “bad news”?

No, but what is more interesting is they also looked at other factors such as how much touch is beneficial and to whom, and even whether robots can be as effective as human beings!