Ana Cortés, psychologist: “It is one of the simplest and most powerful gestures we have to connect with other people”
To mark International Hug Day expert Ana Cortés tells As what the benefits of this gesture are.
January 21, marks International Hug Day, an idea created by Kevin Zaborney, a pastor and specialist from Michigan whose work involved treating juvenile offenders in Boysville, Mount Morris. With a degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in Theology from Boston University, Zaborney noticed that American society felt embarrassed about showing emotions in public.
As a result, he created this day in 1986 in a small town in Michigan. It later spread worldwide after the financial company Chase included the date in its annual events calendar.
In a world that moves quickly and communicates more and more through screens, physical contact has become scarce, almost secondary. However, something as simple and everyday as a hug has a profound impact on our emotional and psychological well-being.
Beyond being an affectionate gesture, a hug is a basic form of human connection. It regulates emotions, conveys safety, and reminds us that we are not alone.
This is how psychologist Ana Cortés from Yees! explains it to AS: “Hugs are one of the simplest and at the same time most powerful gestures we have to connect with other people.”
“From a psychological perspective, we understand them as an essential form of emotional care,” Cortés continues. “At a time when we increasingly interact through screens, artificial intelligence, and quick messages, human contact becomes almost a psychological antidote.”
“A hug reminds us that we are accompanied, that we matter, and that we are part of something. That sense of closeness and belonging is something no technology can replace,” she explains.
“Hugs have a very positive effect on how we feel,” Cortés adds. “When we hug or are hugged, our body releases substances such as oxytocin, which help us feel calmer and safer, while also lowering cortisol levels, which are associated with stress.”
“In addition, beyond the physical aspect, a hug conveys support and understanding without the need for words. That is why, even though they may seem like small gestures, they have a real and profound impact on our emotional well-being,” she says.
The benefits of hugs
According to Cortés, hugs offer many benefits in daily life. They help reduce stress and anxiety by regulating our emotions, increase feelings of calm, safety, and well-being, strengthen bonds and improve trust between people, and encourage closer, more empathetic communication.
“In the workplace, always with respect and trust, these effects translate into more united teams, greater commitment, and healthier work environments. More and more companies understand that caring for mental health is not just about reacting when problems arise, but about creating cultures where people feel genuinely cared for,” she notes.
“Hugs are especially important in situations of emotional vulnerability, such as times of personal difficulty, change, loss, uncertainty, or intense pressure and stress. In those moments, feeling another person’s support can make a significant difference. It helps individuals feel accompanied, understood, and less alone in their experience, strengthening their ability to cope and their emotional resilience,” she concludes.
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