Male bonding is good for stress, scientists say

Scientists have found that male bonding sessions are good for lowering stress levels.

Scientists from Germany’s University of Gottingen found out the effects when testing it on a group of apes.

Barbary macaques show remarkably human like characteristics, and were used to test the theory.

According to the results, male stress hormones fell when guys were around other guys.

But when the males were with other family members, their stress went through the roof.

The journal PNAS also noted that males were more inclined to care for one another.

In monkeys this took the form of picking insects and fleas out of each other’s fur.

It’s not recommended that humans do this, but human males looking after each emotionally was proven to have a positive effect on stress reduction.

Christopher Young of the university’s Primate Social Evolution Group said:

”If male primates live in multimale groups they usually fight fiercely over access to females, but males can develop friendly relationships with a few group mates.

“Male macaques form social bonds similar to human friendships that buffer them against day-to-day stressors.”

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