The importance of hugs: a review of studies confirms the health benefits of physical contact. Touch was especially effective in the physical sphere in regulating levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress.
In the mental sphere, there was also a positive impact on anxiety or feelings of depression. In adults, there were hardly any differences whether the physical contact came from a family member or a health professional, although it must be taken into account that the majority of interventions analyzed were related to massages. In babies, however, a greater benefit was seen when close contact was seen from the parents.