Snuggling up with your partner at bedtime might do more than just feel cozy—it could actually benefit your health.
A recent study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that nighttime cuddling helps strengthen emotional bonds between partners while also reducing stress levels.
Researchers at Auburn University studied 143 heterosexual couples who shared a bed, looking at how physical closeness at bedtime related to factors like stress, emotional insecurity, and sleep disruptions. They also took into account variables such as age, income, relationship duration, daytime tiredness, sleep disorders, and whether pets or children shared the bed.
The findings showed that couples who were physically closer as they drifted off to sleep tended to experience lower levels of emotional disconnection and stress—suggesting that cuddling may play a subtle but meaningful role in supporting both emotional and physical well-being.
Interestingly, the study found no strong link between cuddling at bedtime and actual improvements in sleep quality or disruptions. While couples who snuggled experienced lower stress levels, the physical closeness didn’t appear to affect how well they slept.
Despite this, the researchers suggested that cuddling before sleep could still offer meaningful benefits, calling it a “promising and manageable” way to support both relationship health and overall well-being.
Wendy Troxel, PhD—a sleep expert, licensed clinical psychologist, and senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation—told Fox News Digital that the findings underscore the important role of shared time and physical touch in emotional health.
Troxel, author of Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep, also noted the surprising aspect of the study: that cuddling, while emotionally beneficial, didn’t actually lead to better sleep quality.
According to the expert—who was not involved in the study—what truly matters for relationship health isn’t necessarily spending the entire night together, but rather the shared moments right before falling asleep.
“Even brief physical closeness before sleep can trigger powerful psychological and physiological responses,” she explained. “Cuddling can boost emotional security and stimulate the release of oxytocin, the so-called ‘bonding hormone’ tied to intimacy and connection.” These effects can help ease stress and strengthen emotional ties, making pre-sleep cuddling a valuable ritual for emotional well-being.
Dr. Troxel emphasized that couples don’t need to share the whole night in the same bed to benefit. “No matter your sleeping arrangements, don’t skip the cuddle before bed,” she advised. “Even just a few minutes of closeness can have a lasting impact on your relationship and overall health.”
While the majority of couples in the study did sleep in physical proximity, 36.3% said they didn’t touch or cuddle during the night.
Among the couples who reported touching during sleep, the most common positions included sleeping back-to-back (19.6%), making partial contact like touching an arm or leg (23.1%), spooning (13.3%), intertwining their bodies (4.2%), and facing each other (3.5%).
Dr. Josh R. Novak, co-author of the study and associate professor in Auburn University’s Department of Human Development and Family Science, explained in a statement to Fox News Digital that greater physical closeness at bedtime was linked with a stronger sense of “relational safety,” likely due to reduced stress levels. “Sleep is one of the most vital ways we support our physical, emotional, and relational health,” he said.
He noted that sleep and relationship quality are closely intertwined — poor sleep can strain relationships, and strained relationships can, in turn, disrupt sleep.
Novak also highlighted the importance of non-sexual physical affection in relationships, emphasizing that full-body contact may offer even deeper emotional and relational benefits.
“This study suggests that cuddling can serve as both a reflection of relationship health and a tool for strengthening it,” he said. “It helps reduce stress and can play a key role in maintaining or even repairing emotional bonds.”
The study didn’t measure how long couples stayed in a cuddling position, which left Dr. Novak somewhat skeptical about whether extended cuddling might interfere with sleep.
“In most cases, couples probably cuddle just long enough to drift off,” he explained. “There may be a small number who stay close all night, but I suspect that for most people, cuddling serves as a way to feel calm, safe, and ready for sleep. After that, factors like rising body temperature or discomfort likely lead them to shift positions.”
Novak suggested that cuddling can be especially helpful when stress levels are high, describing it as a powerful nonverbal signal of safety and connection.
“Though more research is needed,” he added, “it’s possible that cuddling could also serve as a starting point for emotional repair — especially if a conflict during the day wasn’t fully resolved. That simple act of physical closeness might help reopen the door to connection.”
