Twitter users urged to beat the January blues with a “cwtch”
On the supposed most depressing day of the year, Blue Monday (21 January, 2013), new research by Confused.com reveals that all people need is a hug to brighten up one's day. In fact, 87% of Brits say a simple cuddle would make them feel happy.
Sadly, 25% of Britons don't receive a cuddle day-to-day, according to the survey of 2,000 UK adults.
Five biggest Cuddling Faux Pas
1. A cuddle from someone with body odour is the biggest hugging faux pas, according to 61% of Brits.
2. 29% say a hug from a work colleague is generally unwelcome.
3. 23% of Brits say it is not ok to cuddle in public.
4. 17% say they don't enjoy a hug from an ex-partner.
5. 12% say a hug at the end of a first date instead of a kiss is a let-down.
People in the South West are most in need of a hug; 34% of those polled said they usually don't receive a hug day-to-day followed by 30% of people in Northern Ireland and 27% of people in Scotland.
Confused.com encourages Twitter users to share a cwtch
To reach out to those in need of affection, Cardiff-based Confused.com is launching an online campaign which encourages social media users to spread a special kind of Welsh hug known as a "cwtch" (pronounced cuch).
Meaning ‘an intentional embrace to bring warmth and a sense of safety to those who need it', 77% of Brits have not heard of the word cwtch.
The campaign, which encourages Twitter users to retweet an infographic which explains how to give a cwtch, aims to bring this word into wider public consciousness while spreading some happiness and warmth to beat the winter blues at the same time.
Physical contact, such as a hug, has a number of benefits.
Dr Eva Cyhlarova, Head of Research at the Mental Health Foundation, said: "We are born with the need for physical contact and it is a very important part of our heritage. We need to form strong affectional bonds with others. There is evidence that hugging or holding hands can reduce blood pressure and stress by lowering the level of and the stress hormone cortisol. It can also increase levels of serotonin, which is an important neurotransmitter that improves mood and reduces depression and anxiety."
Tweeting the blues
An analysis of UK Twitter users shows people have been taking to the social networking site throughout the month to vent their frustration at having the "January Blues".
@inspireajen "Not even One Direction could cheer up my commute this morning. I think this is a January Blues code red."
The campaign aims to extend a virtual hand to those that need cheering up online.
In London, the words "January Blues" were mentioned on Twitter 148 times in the space of one week this month, analysis by Confused.com shows.
This snapshot into the mood of the nation shows other major cities have also been suffering from a touch of the January Blues.
In Manchester, for example, "January Blues" was mentioned 62 times in the week 3 to 10 January and in Leeds it was mentioned 40 times.
Example of the Tweets recorded by Confused.com, based on user locations:
London: @inspireajen "Not even One Direction could cheer up my commute this morning. I think this is a January Blues code red."
Manchester : @thesmashedguy "Proper got the January blues"
Leeds: @LauraTuckwell1 "serious case of january blues"
Glasgow: @jen_gravitDefo "got a case of the january blues! #takemeaway! #needsunshine"
Liverpool: @lisa_mcgrath "Think I have the January blues #fedup"
Share a cwtch - Take a look at our ‘cwtch' video and see what your day is missing: youtube.com/watch?v=QSXuqTG3foc
While the word cwtch is not widely known outside of Wales, a quick search on Twitter shows how it's a firm favourite within the nation:
@NaomiNelmes94 "A cwtch wouldn't go a miss to make this revision more bearable"
@kelliewaltersxx "cwtchhy weather and yet no one to cwtch"
@liamowen123 "I need a cwtch"
Confused.com hopes people will share its cwtch infographic online and, once they have mastered the cwtch technique, will take their newly acquired skills "offline" to share a special hug with a loved one.
People also have a chance to win five warm and snuggly prizes for doing so, including a onesie, a hot chocolate set, a hot water bottle, £50 worth of shopping vouchers, a pair of Ugg boots, a DVD-box set and a popcorn-making machine.
Confused.com is also offering people that Tweet pictures of themselves sharing a cwtch a chance to win a holiday for two to Tenerife courtesy of Teletext holidays.
Matt Lloyd, Head of Life Insurance at Confused.com, said: "In our digital age of social-media based relationships our campaign aims to tap into people's networks of friends and family online and spread some cheer. We also hope people share a cwtch in the real world as there's nothing like it to help lift the spirits, especially at this time of year when the mood of the nation can seem as gloomy as the weather."
Top cuddle facts
1. The ideal length of a cuddle is 5.89 seconds. Any longer than this and it could become awkward - 34% of Brits say a hug that lasts too long is one reason why they wouldn't enjoy a cuddle.
2. A quarter (23%) of Brits say it is not ok to cuddle in public.
3. Females are more likely to give a hug to say sorry to someone than men - 22% of women compared with 13% of men.
4. Four in ten (41%) men give their mates a man hug. London men are the most likely to enjoy a man-to-man embrace (47%) while men in Wales are the least likely (32%).
5. Four in ten (41%) Britons say their favourite type of cuddle is warm and cuddly, whereas 21% say they prefer theirs to be short and sweet.
6. People in the West Midlands are more likely to give colleagues a cuddle, whereas North East workers are least likely to hug fellow employees.
7. You're most likely to get a hug off someone you don't know in East Anglia - 3% of people in the region say they would give a stranger a hug if they thought they needed one.
8. Cuddling is most important to people aged 55+, who rate it an average of 6.95 on a scale of one to 10 (with one being the least important and 10 being the most important).
Confused.com cwtch infographic can be found at:
confused.com/news-views/infographics/the-perfect-cwtch-a-step-by-step-guide