Health · Medical Research · 9 hrs ago
Men more likely than women to find hugs arousing, study finds
Researchers at the University of Bristol surveyed more than 15,000 adults about their experiences of hugging.
The study found that 3.9% of men and 0.8% of women associated hugs with arousal.
Comfort was the most common reason people remembered hugs, followed by support, friendliness and happiness.
About one-third of women linked hugs with comfort, compared with one-quarter of men.
Overall, 70% of participants remembered hugs for their positive emotional impact, and people who hugged friends and family regularly were more likely to recall them fondly.
The researchers say they want to study how personality, past experiences and context shape reactions to hugs.
A study found that men were more likely than women to associate remembered hugs with arousal.
The researchers surveyed more than 15,000 adults about their experiences of hugging.
Arousal was reported by 3.9 per cent of men and 0.8 per cent of women.
Women more often associated hugs with comfort: about a third did so, compared with a quarter of men.
The researchers said comfort was the most common reason participants remembered hugs.
- Who
- Researchers from the University of Bristol surveyed more than 15,000 adults.
- What
- The study found men were more likely than women to remember hugs as arousing.
- When
- The article was published on 28 October 2026; the study date is not stated.
- Where
- The research was conducted by a team from the University of Bristol.
- Why
- The researchers examined how people experience and remember hugs. They said gender differences may reflect different views of hugs as emotional support or as romantic or sexual interactions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers surveyed more than 15,000 adults about their experiences of hugging.
The Daily Mail published its report on the study's findings.
- Participants surveyed
- More than 15,000 adults
- Men associating hugs with arousal
- 3.9 per cent
- Women associating hugs with arousal
- 0.8 per cent
- Women associating hugs with comfort
- About one-third
- Men associating hugs with comfort
- About one-quarter
- Research team
- University of Bristol
What people are saying
We found that among participants who remembered a hug, men were more likely than women to describe it as arousing.
Arousal was not a common experience associated with hugging overall, so this finding comes from a comparatively small group of participants,