Hugs that offer comfort, support, and understanding from close companions tend to be the most memorable , according to a large study that surveyed over 15,000 UK adults.

A warm hug is an important form of social touch , associated with positive outcomes like reduced stress and improved mood.

However, very little is known about the individual differences between different kinds of embraces and how people remember hugs.

It particularly remains unclear whether empathy, body image, attachment patterns in relationships, and everyday experiences influence the emotional value placed on hugs, say researchers from the University of Bristol.

In the new study, researchers probed whether hugs are generally remembered as distinct emotional experiences , and whether individual differences are related to emotions linked to hugging.

The research assessed data from a survey of 15,049 healthy adults, of whom 75 per cent were women.

Participants were recruited in the UK through promotion on public broadcasting programmes…