By John Salak –
So much for romance in New Zealand or at least at the city of Dunedin’s airport. Officials there have put a new three-minute time limit on goodbye hugs in the airport’s drop-off area to ward off traffic and people jams. While hugs are healthy, officials are finding a balance between heartfelt farewells and keeping the flow moving. Unfortunately, what benefits airport authorities could be offset by the losses they’re causing by restricting health-inducing hugs.
The New Zealanders, regardless, are not messing around, literally. A sign now stands at the drop-off warning: “Max hug time three minutes.” The airport does go on to suggest that those in need of a “fonder farewell” should retreat to the airport’s parking lot.
“We were accused of breaching basic human rights and how dare we limit how long someone can have a hug for,” airport CEO Dan De Bono was reported as saying in response to the hubbub over hugs.
Human rights may not be an issue, but the limit on hugs may have some harmful health impacts. The Cleveland Clinic, for one, is all for hugs.
“The health benefits of giving and receiving hugs are quite impressive. Hugs have a therapeutic effect on people,” says psychologist Joe Rock told the clinic. They not only show someone you care about them, but hugs are clinically beneficial.
“Research shows that hugs can be healthy,” Rock said. “Hugs cause a decrease in the release of cortisol, a stress hormone, and other research indicates that hugs decrease your blood pressure and heart rate in stressful situations.”
The Greater Good magazine, published by the University of California, Berkley, agrees with Rock and supports the notion that hugs are helpful. The magazine notes that hugs can improve sleep, reduce stress, raise moods and lower depression. They may even build immune systems.
“Through regulation of our hormones—including oxytocin and cortisol—touching and hugging can also affect our body’s immune response. Whereas high levels of stress and anxiety can suppress our ability to fight infections, close, supportive relationships benefit health and well-being,” Greater Good wrote.
Admittedly, it is unlikely that reports from the likes of the Greater Good, the Cleveland Clinic and other sources will do much good in convincing the Dunedin airport to loosen up their restrictions on hugs. But these reports will hopefully encourage other facilities to avoid similar bans. In the meantime, WellWell suggests getting in all the extended hugs needed before leaving home.
