Hugs and Mental Healthby Beth McHugh | More from this Blogger 24 Oct 2008 02:33 PM Remember those corny old cards, bookmarks and bumper stickers that proclaimed "Hugs Are Healing"? Well, no surprises for guessing that the authors were correct. Researchers at the UK's Manchester Metropolitan University in England have concluded what we all suspected: hugs are healing. But scientists warn we are caught in an epidemic of a non-hugging culture where we are either too time-poor to hug, or political correctness gets in the way. This is a sad but true reflection of our times. Teachers are no longer permitted to touch, much less hug, their infant charges, who might benefit from having a hug or three during those stressful early months at school. But things don't look any better for us adults. Psychologist Dr. David Holmes of Manchester Metropolitan University claimed that these days, we are just too busy to hug. A recent survey indicated that around a third of the population received no hugs on a daily basis, while a whapping 75% claimed that they would like more hugs. The increasing size of the family home means that children often watch TV in their rooms, while their parents watch the same program in another room. The days when families crowded onto the sofa in front of the single television and thus receiving sensory touching experience from other family members is long gone for many families. Young working couples forgo hugs because, after a hard days work, both parties are simply too tired and too busy doing household chores to take the time to hug. Families with children under three fared the best on the hug scale, although often the arrival of children signaled the end of regular hugging between the parents. Hugs for children dropped off after the age of about 11, and did not increase again until the age of 18. The good news is that once children leave the family home the rate of couple hugging increases, as affection is once more redirected towards the couple rather than outwards towards the children. But the bottom line is: We need more hugs. Dr. Holmes estimates that adults need at least one good hug a day to cope with the pressures of life. Given that cuddling lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and generally combats stress, it's important that as individuals we take steps to reintroduce the hug back into our daily lives. Contact Beth McHugh for further assistance regarding this issue. Want an easier way to keep abreast of Beth's latest blogs? By clicking on the "Subscribe via Email" link in the subscription box to the right, you will receive email notification of each new blog as it is published. Related articles: Hand Holding and Mental Health Learn more about Beth McHugh  Beth McHugh began her career as a geologist and worked both in industry and as a university researcher. Relevantmental health tags marriage | sex | christmas | pregnancy | family | parenting | Kids | relationships | Scrapbooking | children User Comments geblueyes (15) 24 Oct 2008 05:20 PMI have often wondered how not getting enough daily hugs effects the emotional well-being and self-esteem of children. As a child growing up in the 50's I know my brother and I were not hugged. I also know that my self-esteem was low; and not just because I did not receive hugs. Now, as a single, senior adult the only hugs I get are from one of my cats. He loves and thrives on climbing up on my chest and hanging over my shoulder - this hug is satisfing to both of us. This will never replace the bear hug of another adult but it does help. Anyone who lives alone needs to have a dog or cat to have around for a little company; that's what I think anyway. And, if you know someone who lives in a nursing home or assisted living bringing them your pet now and again to hold and pet is great therapy for them. lostforwords (15) 24 Oct 2008 07:58 PMi couldn't agree more with this view on things.It is very important as it gives a child a very good start in life to feel loved and wanted !.To receive hugs later in life can heal childhood wounds and make life feel as though it is worth living!.I have been blessed to have had a beautiful man in my life that would always give me BIG hugs whenever i saw him,ah it was so lovely.I also believe that children that are hugged and loved early in life do a lot better at school and feel what they have achieved is good enough!...considering the family environment they grew up in x It can make little girls feel like they are walking on air...x It should be a crime to feel so much,sometimes i feel like i need to go to my left side of my brain to do some more work for me ! x  Michele Cheplic |
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More mental health tagsmarriage | sex | christmas | pregnancy | family | parenting | Kids | relationships | Scrapbooking | children |
