Study Links Hug Memories to Attachment Style
A PLOS One analysis of more than 15,000 survey responses finds attachment style and gender shape how people remember hugs.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Friendships
A study published in PLOS One analyzed survey responses from more than 15,000 people about memorable hugs. Nearly 70 percent of respondents could recall a hug that left them with positive feelings, most often offering comfort, support or understanding.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that gender and attachment style play a role in what physical affection means to people. Understanding these differences may help explain why the same gesture can feel comforting to one person and unsettling to another.
The study drew on responses from more than 15,000 people, and nearly 70 percent could recall a hug that left them feeling positive. The questionnaire did not screen for those with a secure attachment style, so that group's results are not characterized.
The players
PLOS One
PLOS One is a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science that covers research across many disciplines.
The details
Respondents filled out a questionnaire measuring attachment style and described memorable hugs they had experienced. Higher anxious-attachment scores were linked to a greater likelihood of remembering a positive hug, while higher avoidant-attachment scores were linked to fewer.
Timeline
The study was published recently in the journal PLOS One.
Roadmap
The study applies the avoidant and anxious dimensions of adult attachment theory to the everyday question of how people remember and interpret physical affection. It extends a long line of research connecting attachment style to how people seek and respond to closeness.
The findings may help readers reflect on how they and the people around them respond to physical affection. Recognizing that a hug can feel comforting to one person and uncomfortable to another can shape how people approach closeness in their own relationships.
The takeaway
Paying attention to how a hug lands for someone else can strengthen friendships and family bonds. Not everyone experiences physical affection the same way, so asking before offering a hug can make closeness feel more comfortable for both people.
Further reading
For more on how closeness shapes our bonds, explore Friendships.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The New York Times.
