This archive report was first published on 11 June 2020.
Published on June 11, 2020, a study by researchers from Japan's Toho University shed light on the science behind the perfect hug.
By analyzing the calming effect of hugs of different pressures on infants, the team found that a medium-pressure hug from a parent was the most effective in soothing babies.
Using pressure sensors and heart rate monitors, the researchers assessed the reaction of infants to being held, a medium-pressure hug, and a 'tight' hug.
The results showed that babies were calmed more by a medium-pressure hug than just being held, but the calming effect decreased during a 'tight' hug.
Interestingly, the study also found that the calming effect was greater when receiving a hug from a parent than from a female stranger for infants older than 125 days.
The researchers believe that their findings can advance knowledge of parent-child bonding and child psychology, and may even have applications in the early detection of autism.
According to Hiromasa Funato, one of the researchers, the study's results could be used to screen for autonomic function, sensory integration, and social recognition in infants with high familial risk for autism spectrum disorder.
