Daily Hugging Predicts Lower Levels of Two Proinflammatory Cytokines

Lisa J. van Raalte; Kory Floyd

doi:10.1080/10570314.2020.1850851

Daily Hugging Predicts Lower Levels of Two Proinflammatory Cytokines

Lisa J. van Raalte, Kory Floyd

Communication

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current study asked a sample (N = 20) of healthy young adults to report their daily hugging behaviors over a 14-day period and to collect their saliva at the beginning and end of the study. Based on affection exchange theory, we hypothesized that the frequency of hugging would be inversely related to proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL) 1-β, 6, and 8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Controlling for baseline levels, hugging was significantly and inversely related to IL1-β and TNF-α after the 14-day period. Associations with IL-6 and IL-8, although nonsignificant, were also in the hypothesized direction.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	487-506
Number of pages	20
Journal	Western Journal of Communication
Volume	85
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2020.1850851
State	Published - 2021

Keywords

Affection
Cytokines
Health
Hugging
Inflammation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Communication
Language and Linguistics

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10.1080/10570314.2020.1850851

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title = "Daily Hugging Predicts Lower Levels of Two Proinflammatory Cytokines",

abstract = "The current study asked a sample (N = 20) of healthy young adults to report their daily hugging behaviors over a 14-day period and to collect their saliva at the beginning and end of the study. Based on affection exchange theory, we hypothesized that the frequency of hugging would be inversely related to proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL) 1-β, 6, and 8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Controlling for baseline levels, hugging was significantly and inversely related to IL1-β and TNF-α after the 14-day period. Associations with IL-6 and IL-8, although nonsignificant, were also in the hypothesized direction.",

keywords = "Affection, Cytokines, Health, Hugging, Inflammation",

author = "{van Raalte}, {Lisa J.} and Kory Floyd",

note = "Funding Information: This study was funded by an Enhanced Research Grant provided by the [Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at Sam Houston State University]. We would like to acknowledge Taylor Butler and Isabella Vazquez, students at Sam Houston State University, for their help with data collection. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Western States Communication Association.",

year = "2021",

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language = "English (US)",

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AU - van Raalte, Lisa J.

AU - Floyd, Kory

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by an Enhanced Research Grant provided by the [Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at Sam Houston State University]. We would like to acknowledge Taylor Butler and Isabella Vazquez, students at Sam Houston State University, for their help with data collection. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Western States Communication Association.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - The current study asked a sample (N = 20) of healthy young adults to report their daily hugging behaviors over a 14-day period and to collect their saliva at the beginning and end of the study. Based on affection exchange theory, we hypothesized that the frequency of hugging would be inversely related to proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL) 1-β, 6, and 8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Controlling for baseline levels, hugging was significantly and inversely related to IL1-β and TNF-α after the 14-day period. Associations with IL-6 and IL-8, although nonsignificant, were also in the hypothesized direction.

AB - The current study asked a sample (N = 20) of healthy young adults to report their daily hugging behaviors over a 14-day period and to collect their saliva at the beginning and end of the study. Based on affection exchange theory, we hypothesized that the frequency of hugging would be inversely related to proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL) 1-β, 6, and 8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Controlling for baseline levels, hugging was significantly and inversely related to IL1-β and TNF-α after the 14-day period. Associations with IL-6 and IL-8, although nonsignificant, were also in the hypothesized direction.

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KW - Inflammation

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Daily Hugging Predicts Lower Levels of Two Proinflammatory Cytokines

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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