Have Your Say: What makes teddy bears so comforting?

Is there anything more relaxing than a cuddle with your teddy bear?

For years, scientists have been interested in what makes a plush toy like a teddy bear so comforting.

And a study published by the Journal of Positive Psychology says the way a teddy bear looks matters less than your relationship with that bear.

Their theory suggests that, regardless of how cute and squishy a plush toy might seem, it won't be as comforting to you as the slightly worn and tatty bear that you have known and loved for years.

The study suggests the connection volunteers had with their own teddies was what made their teddies comforting, rather than how cute a soft toy might look

In the study, eight teddy bears were sent to different places in France.

Each of the bears had different features, and 395 volunteers of different ages were asked to compare how comforting they found these bears, compared with their own bears at home.

The results seemed to suggest the new teddy bears were not as comforting to participants, regardless of how adorable and soft they looked.

We want to know what you think?

What makes a teddy bear so comforting for you? Do you like to cuddle teddies? Or is there something you find more comforting than a plush toy?

You can tell us your thoughts in the comments.