“I Need a Hug,” Medically Correct

Ron Ross
Bridges for Peace News
Email: ronrossbfp@hotmail.com

31st January 2008

“I need a hug,” turns out to be medically true. According to research led by Dr Avi Sadeh of Tel Aviv University’s Pediatrics Department children psychologically stressed respond positively to cuddling a stuffed toy.

Dr Saleh and his team conducted their research using “Huggy-Puppy”, a floppy-eared, furry dog with droopy legs. Those legs were intentionally long enough to wrap around a child in a “hug.”

74 children (40 boys and 34 girls) participated. Their average age was five.

All of the children had lived in shelter camps during 2006 and were subjected to the activities of war. Fighting between the Israel Defence Forces and the Hizbullah terrorists was constantly around them. They were instructed to care for “Huggy-Puppy” because he “was far from home, had no friends and need care from a buddy.”

The parents were instructed to remind the children of their responsibility.

Most of the children had suffered severe stress but the scientists said, they displayed a marked improvement.

The selected children had shown symptoms of severe stress including fears of separation, agitation, nervousness, excessive crying or sleep disruption before the study began. According to a report by Israel 21c: “Three weeks after receiving the puppy, the children with the strongest attachment to their toy, had the lowest stress levels.”

After two months, 71% of the children showed no such symptoms of severe war-related trauma. A comparison group of who did not receive a “Huggy-Puppy” did not fare so well. Only 39% were free from their stress symptoms.

Dr Saleh and his team have continued with studies. Nearly 300 children suffering from the effect of the Second Lebanon War, confirmed the earlier research.

“Shifting attention from oneself to others can be very healthy for individuals under stressful times,” Dr Sadeh said in comments to Reuters Health.

The doctor has now expanded his programme to provide ‘Huggy-Puppy’ cuddles for more children suffering stress.

The next time you feel down, depressed or just out of it, “I need a hug,” is the right medicine, after all.

Ron Ross resigned as Senior Pastor of Noosa Baptist Church to become National Director of Bridges for Peace Australia. Three years ago he joined Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem to establish international radio news and an audio service webcast at www.bridgesforpeace.com Ron was Sports Editor of WINTV for 20 years before joining the full-time missions. You can contact Ron at : ronrossbfp@hotmail.com