A heartfelt response: oxytocin effects on response to social stress in men and women

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

关键词: oxytocin;    social bonding;    stress regulation;    gender;    health;   

DOI  :  10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.19449

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Rationale/statement of the problem : Animal research has indicated that oxytocin is involved in social bonding, stress regulation, and positive physiologic adaptations that may be linked with greater longevity and successful aging. Because of its potential role in promoting positive human social behavior, recent research has focused on whether oxytocin may lead to improved social and emotional functioning for various mental disorders. Moreover, given its apparent anti-stress effects, some investigators have posited that oxytocin may provide the basis for the observed beneficial effects of positive social relationships on health. While knowledge of the effects of oxytocin in healthy humans remains limited, the emerging research has raised some doubt as to whether effects are uniformly prosocial or stress-reducing. Moreover, gender differences in these stress-related effects have been speculated but not tested in humans. In this study, we examine whether oxytocin enhances salutary responses to social stress and compare effects between men and women. Methods : Hypotheses were tested with a placebo-controlled, double-blind experiment, using a between subjects 2 (male vs. female)×2 (oxytocin vs. placebo) design. Participants (n=99) were randomized to receive either intranasal oxytocin spray or placebo (saline) nasal spray. Social stress was induced using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Baseline measures of estradiol were obtained via saliva samples. Primary outcomes were cardiovascular (CV) reactivity, objective behavior during the stress task coded by observers unaware of the oxytocin condition, and self-reported affective responses. Results : Analyses were conducted using two-way analysis of variance models (or ANCOVA if covariates such as age or estradiol were included). Participants given oxytocin, relative to placebo, responded to social stress with a challenge orientation characterized by a benign pattern of cardiovascular reactivity. For example, participants given oxytocin, compared to placebo participants, exhibited a trend toward greater increases in cardiac output [F(1, 68) = 3.31, p=0.07, d=0.47] and ventricular contractility [indicating more sympathetic activation; F(1, 71) = 2.98, p=0.09, d=0.45]. Gender differences also emerged. Men given oxytocin reported less negative affect (e.g., mean change between baseline and social stress task, men = 0.26 vs. women = 2.14) and had greater vagal rebound. However, women given oxytocin reported more anger (e.g., mean change men = − 0.62 vs. women = 0.71) and had better math performance following social stress. Conclusion : Findings indicated that oxytocin stimulates an approach-oriented cardiovascular profile during social stress, suggesting mechanisms by which oxytocin might influence health. However, before considering oxytocin as therapeutic or uniformly beneficial, greater understanding of possible gender dimorphic effects is needed.