Over 95% of Straight [British] Male College Athletes Admit to Cuddling Their Teammates in Bed

This comes from The Daily Mail in England, which is not a very reliable source of non-sensationalist information. But this time there is an actual research study that serves as the foundation for the article - from the journal Men and Masculinities.

Cuddling and Spooning: Heteromasculinity and Homosocial Tactility among Student-athletes

By Eric Anderson, Mark McCormack

Abstract

This article examines the prevalence of homosocial tactility and the contemporary status and meaning of heteromasculinity among British male youth. Drawing on in-depth interviews with forty student-athletes at a British university, we find that thirty-seven participants have cuddled with another male. In addition to this cuddling, participants also engage in “spooning” with their heterosexual male friends. Demonstrating the pleasurable aspects of being a man in this culture, we argue that the expansion of esteemed homosocial behaviors for heterosexual men is evidence of an expansion of changing conceptions of masculinity in contemporary culture. We call for the discussion of heteromasculinities and contextualize our findings using inclusive masculinity theory.

There really is nothing at all shocking about this - men used to regular share beds and share physical affection like cuddling and hugs. Seems this died out, at least on the surface, back around the early 20th century.

It's a fallacy, however, to equate this behavior (mostly in men aged 16-22) as homosexual or homoerotic. It seems to me that men are finally getting comfortable (again) with the need for physical touch to be psychologically whole. If you are an athlete in particular, you likely spend more time with teammates than with any other human beings - its logical to look to those guys for emotional support and physical contact. 

I'd bet the numbers are far lower in the U.S. where there is much more homophobia and homohysteria among athletes.

Here is the summary of the article from The Daily Mail.

Spooning for success: Over 95% of straight male college athletes admit to cuddling their teammates in bed

• Researchers found that 97.5% of heterosexual, male British college athletes have shared a bed with another
• Small study interviewed 40 male athletes on their sleeping arrangements

By Mark Prigg
Published: 1 May 2014

Researchers have found that the majority of male athletes spoon each other when sharing beds with their teammates.

Researchers found that 97.5% of heterosexual, male college athletes have shared a bed with another man and 93.5% admit to having indulged in spooning.

Researchers say the athletes even spooned with others who were not necessarily close friends.


A fine Bromance: James Franco and Keegan Allen aren't alone, researcher have found. Researchers found that 97.5% of heterosexual, male college athletes have shared a bed with another man and 93.5% admit to having indulged in spooning.

CHANGING ATTITUDES

• A recent national survey found that 29% of British adults think same-sex relationships are wrong, a sharp drop from 46% in 2000.
• It’s backed up by data from the Pew Research Center, which found that 74% of Americans born after 1980 believe that homosexuality should be accepted by society.

The study, published last month in the Men and Masculinities journal, was conducted by two researchers at Winchester and Durham Universities, who questioned 40 University athletes.

'In addition to cuddling, participants also engage in ‘spooning’ with their heterosexual male friends,' Eric Anderson and Mark McCormack wrote.

'Highlighting the prosaic nature of bed sharing for these participants, most indicated that it was not necessary to be close friends to share a bed with someone.'

One of the participants said the act was simply one of friendship.

'I love a quick cuddle, just so you remember your friends are about and are there for you.'

Another said: 'I feel comfortable with Connor and we spend a lot of time together.

The researchers say the behavior is common among athletes as they travel and shower together, but is common among all young men - although tapers off with age.

'I happily rest my head on Connor’s shoulder when lying on the couch or hold him in bed. But he’s not the only one. The way I see it, is that we are all very good and close mates.

'We have a bromance where we are very comfortable around each other.'

The researchers say the behavior is common among athletes as they travel and shower together, but is common among all young men - although tapers off with age.

'Outside of an undergraduate setting the numbers are likely to be far less,' Anderson told Vocativ.

'While we know, definitively, that it is a regular occurrence among 16- to 18-year-olds in addition to university students, it is not likely to exist whatsoever among 40-year-old men,' he says.

Participants said cuddling up was simply an act of friendship.

'This is both a function of the homohysteric culture that 40-year-old men experienced in their adolescence, as much as it is a function of the fact that 40-year-old men go home to sleep in bed with their spouses.'

Experts say the study reflects changing attitudes to male sexuality.

'We argue that the expansion of esteemed homosocial behaviors for heterosexual men is evidence of an expansion of changing conceptions of masculinity in contemporary culture, the researchers wrote.

A recent national survey found that 29% of British adults think same-sex relationships are wrong, a sharp drop from 46% in 2000.

It’s backed up by data from the Pew Research Center, which found that 74% of Americans born after 1980 believe that homosexuality should be accepted by society.

Some of the interviewees even admitted they had no problem with their bedmate waking up with a morning erection.

'We don’t give anyone s**t anymore,' said one.