The Science Of ‘Bromance’: Study Suggests Men Should Bond Together More Often To Reduce Stress

Contrary to the longstanding belief that men can be more competitive and aggressive with each other, a new study claims that "bromance" or the close friendship between men can significantly boost their health.  Researchers from Standford University have found that the bond may help buffer males against stress.

The Washington Post reported the new study, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, has concluded that bromance could be as effective as intimate romance in easing stress.  Bromance is a term used to refer the emotionally intense and non-sexual bond between two or more men.

The researchers achieved their conclusion by experimenting on male rats kept in a cage. They discovered that the rodents turned more sociable and affectionate to each other when exposed to mild stress.

"A bromance can be a good thing. Males are getting a bad rap when you look at animal models of interactions, because they are assumed to be instinctively aggressive," Dr. Elizabeth Kirby, lead author of the study, said in an article of The Telegraph. "Even rats can have a good cuddle - essentially a male-male bromance - to help recover from a bad day."

The researchers believed that close male bonds can boost the amount of oxytocin in the brain, which will consequently decrease anxiety. They also added that these findings will support those men whose close relationships were stereotyped as disruptive or "un-masculine."

"Having friends is not un-masculine," Kirby said. "These rats are using their friendships to recover from what would otherwise be a negative experience. [And] if rats can do it, men can do it."

The researchers, however, said that the benefits of bromance have a limit. They also discovered that when the rats were exposed to a more life-threatening stress, they stopped bonding, stayed away from each other, and turned aggressive.

"This really aligns well with what you see with pathological effects of stress on humans," Kirby explained. She said these findings suggest that men can only be comfortable to each other at some point. However, as soon as the stress is too much to handle, their bond will become unhelpful.