If you’re a fan of spooning or pining for a second hug, new research suggests it could be the cure to fighting fit. Your casual cuddles on the couch could actually be helping you reduce the risk of infection, found a study by the Carnegie Mellon University. Taking a sample of 404 healthy adults, researchers asked the group to fill out a questionnaire assessing how frequently they receive hugs and what level of personal pr relationship conflict they experienced over a two week period. They were then exposed to a common cold virus and monitored. The study found that those with increased levels of cuddles and hugging were less likely to become infected by the cold virus. It was also shown that those who did fall ill experienced less severe symptoms that if they had regular cuddles. Speaking about the study, Sheldon Cohen said: "We know that people experiencing ongoing conflicts with others are less able to fight off cold viruses. We also know that people who report having social support are partly protected from the effects of stress on psychological states, such as depression and anxiety. "We tested whether perceptions of social support are equally effective in protecting us from stress-induced susceptibility to infection and also whether receiving hugs might partially account for those feelings of support and themselves protect a person against infection." The author explains that hugs lower an individual’s stress levels as they feel socially supported during times of conflict. This in turn could reduce their vulnerability to illness. So best start clocking those daily cuddles. (It’s also the best excuse to adopt a puppy… ) H/T Women's Health