Cuddling Is Good For You

by WiredBerries Editors — June 11, 2007

New research shows that affectionate physical contact is good for a woman's health. Curiously, sweet words didn't have the same positive effect on females, but the exact opposite was true for men. Guys can handle stress better when their partners say nice things to them, but cuddling has less impact.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Zurich and Emory University, involved couples who had been married or cohabiting with a male partner for at least 12 months. Saliva tests were used to determine levels of the stress hormone cortisol, heart rate, and various psychological responses to stress. The study compared the reactions of either verbal support or physical touch and found that men and women responded differently.

"Whereas men in contrast to women show immediate benefits from verbal social support by that partner, our findings in women suggest that not social support, but rather affectionate physical partner interaction markedly contributes to lower reactivity to stressful life events," the study reports. "Research on marital counseling and therapy should focus not only on risk factors such as hostility and conflict during couple interaction, but also carefully consider touch and various forms of support as potential mediators of the known health advantages attributable to close relationships."

In other words, women need cuddles and men need kudos. We may have instinctively guessed as much, but now we have some scientific proof. You'll both be set if you have him hold you close while you whisper sweet words of encouragement in his ear.