Professor Stuart Brody, a sexual psychologist from the University of Paisley, says touch has a calming effect – whether linked to sex or not. “Being touched by someone you care about increases the effect,” he says. “Apart from the sensation, researchers say there is a biochemical effect that reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol. “Positions that maximise contact, such as spooning, have the greatest effect on cortisol levels.” A study published in the journal Biological Psychology says people who’d had sex the previous night responded better to stressful situations and reported being happier the whole of the next day.
