Why you need to give more hugs

There’s no denying it, hugs are pretty great. There are so many different types – one-armed hugs from your dad, huge warm embraces from your mum and soft, memorable cuddles from your grandma – to name a few! Hugs can make you feel safe, content and most importantly, loved. But would you believe it if I told you that hugs could help to heal sick children? Well, according to new research from The Kimberly-Clark Commission, they can!
The study found that 99 per cent of nurses and midwives agree that hugs and affection are an important part of the healing process for sick children. Plus, 98 per cent believe that hugs can actually help children recover more quickly during an illness.* Pretty amazing!
RELATED: How to: use colours to heal
Janet Burke, Head of Child Life Therapy at Sydney Children’s Hospital explains the science behind these claims telling us, “A child develops over 80 per cent of their brain capacity in the first four years and during this crucial period physical touch is fundamental.” According to Janet, hugs have many benefits including:
- Helping to form attachment with a parent of care giver
- Reducing heart rate
- Reducing blood pressure
- Increasing immunity
So, when it comes to the power of hugs to heal, Janet tells us, “In the context of every child’s development hugs are important, but when you think of a child who is sick - the comfort and healing that can come from hugs and touch is crucial.”
With so many health professionals agreeing that hugs form an important part of the healing and recovery process, it’s no surprise that in Children’s Hospitals, hugs and physical touch are a focus of care because of the physical and emotional effect they have on children. This year, Huggies partnered with Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia to relaunch their Hugs For Healing campaign, which raised $150,000 to fund high priority pieces of medical equipment in children’s hospitals across Australia. If that’s not enough to make you feel like hugging someone then I don’t know what is! So go on, hug your parents, your siblings, your mates or even your pet – it will make you feel better – science says so!
*Kimberly-Clark commissioned independent marketing research firm Edelman Berland to conduct the research. A representative sample of n=100 Australian registered nurses completed an online survey between 16-21 October 2015.
Do you think hugs have the power to heal?
48 Member Comments
To some yes. I have allergy to hugs, so no.
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Hugs definitely work to calm me down & have the same effect on my little ones.
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I have two friends that simply hate hugging but whenever I see them, the first thing I do is embrace them in a hug and my husband says that he sees them smiling and then when they pull back they will say, you know I hate hugging hmmmm
I love to hug so watch out if ever I meet you :-P
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Calling anne and misfortune8 and giggling!!!
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Hugs are therapeutic
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Always nice to give and receive a hug
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Agree. I love hugging my family, friends and partner. My partner is not too keen on the hugs sometimes. This article makes me think of India's Amma, known as the hugging saint who hugs strangers unconditionally.
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Totally agree with this article. Touch is underrated, even for adults.
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Hugs are great. My toddler refuses to hug or kiss me (little toad!) My son isn't huggy either (never has been, but he's 15 now. Definitely not a huggy age). Thankfully my husband hugs me. I generally am not a huggy person either though.
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Hugs are a great way to express a little love and a great way to bond with someone. I love a hug.
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I don't need science and research to confirm that hugs are healing.
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Hugs are amazing, I love giving & receiving them!
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I think hugs are so beneficial and it's lovely that more people hug now.
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Could go for a big hug right now from friends and family <3
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Hugs are great
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I love hugs too
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I wish I had someone to hug!
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i love hugs!!! xoxoxoxoooooo!
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True true true, when my little man comes in and gives me a giant hug when he wakes up melts my heart and makes me super happy all day :) then I go out and get double hugs from my twins and who can be sad after that?
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Hugs are awesome
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Hugs are awesome
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I definitely agree with this one, my little boy loves a hug and actually says afterwards, "I am happy now".
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