Oxytocin buffers cortisol responses to stress in individuals with impaired emotion regulation abilities
Abstract
Oxytocin facilitates stress regulation but little is known about individual differences in this effect. The present study investigates whether the effect of intranasal oxytocin on stress-contingent cortisol release differs between individuals with high vs. low emotional regulation abilities (ERA). In a double-blind study thirty-six healthy male students with either high or low ERA were randomly assigned to receive intranasally 24 IU oxytocin or placebo. Cortisol was measured at several times before and after a social stressor (public speaking). Individuals with impaired ERA showed a reduced cortisol response to stress after oxytocin but an increased cortisol response after placebo application. The results suggest that healthy individuals with low ERA benefit from intranasal oxytocin application. Neurobiological mechanisms potentially underlying the link between oxytocin, cortsiol and ERA are discussed against the background of a neuroendocrinological perspective on personality.
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Oxytocin effects can vary as a function of emotion regulation skills.
“previous research has shown that oxytocin effects can vary as a function of emotion regulation skills (Quirin et al., 2011), social context history of childhood maltreatment (Ebert et al., 2013; Flanagan et al., 2015), and sex (Ditzen et al., 2012; Rilling et al., 2014).”
From Augmenting Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD with intranasal oxytocin: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial (2018) · cites this paper as Quirin et al., 2011
The inhibition of palatable snack intake by oxytocin involves a stress axis-related component.
“The conclusion that the inhibition of palatable snack intake by oxytocin involves a stress axis-related component (43) is supported by the positive association between the attenuating effects of oxytocin on cortisol concentrations and chocolate cookie intake.”
From Oxytocin Reduces Reward-Driven Food Intake in Humans (2013) · cites this paper as [43]
One new hypothesis regarding intranasal oxytocin's effects on human behavior suggests that intranasal oxytocin attenuates stress responses more effectively for those with vulnerabilities such as poor coping and emotion regulation skills compared to those equipped with more adaptive stress responses.
“As a result, one new hypothesis regarding intranasal oxytocin’s effects on human behavior suggests that intranasal oxytocin attenuates stress responses more effectively for those with vulnerabilities such as poor coping and emotion regulation skills compared to those equipped with more adaptive stress responses (Bartz et al., 2010; Cardoso et al., 2012; Quirin et al., 2011).”
From Effects of adverse childhood experiences on the association between intranasal oxytocin and social stress reactivity among individuals with cocaine dependence (2015) · cites this paper as Quirin et al., 2011
Accumulating evidence has shown stronger effects of OT in individuals with high trait anxiety, high autistic traits, impaired emotion regulation, low emotional sensitivity, or high attachment avoidance.
“Accumulating evidence has shown stronger effects of OT in individuals with high trait anxiety (34), high autistic traits (9), impaired emotion regulation (35), low emotional sensitivity (36), or high attachment avoidance (50).”
From Distinct oxytocin effects on belief updating in response to desirable and undesirable feedback (2016) · cites this paper as [35]
The studies showing stronger OT effects in less socially adapted individuals mainly used self-centered measures, such as anxiety traits measured by STAI-T, sociocognitive skills, or emotional sensitivity/regulation.
“However, the studies showing stronger OT effects in less socially adapted individuals mainly used self-centered measures, such as anxiety traits measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) (34), sociocognitive skills (9), or emotional sensitivity/regulation (35, 36).”
From Distinct oxytocin effects on belief updating in response to desirable and undesirable feedback (2016) · cites this paper as [35]
Healthy men with low emotion regulation abilities show higher cortisol stress responses.
“healthy men with low emotion regulation abilities show higher cortisol stress responses (as expected)”
From Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers (2014) · cites this paper as Quirin et al., 2011
Healthy men with low emotion regulation abilities benefit more from intranasal OT; those with high emotion regulating abilities do not.
“but also benefit more from intranasal OT; whereas those with high emotion regulating abilities do not (Quirin et al., 2011)”
From Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers (2014) · cites this paper as Quirin et al., 2011
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References 73 · Cited by 204
- Authors
- Quirin, M., Kuhl, J., & Düsing, R.
- Affiliations
- Osnabrück University (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Quirin, Markus
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-07
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 898-904
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2142877367
- Cited by
- 204
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 26.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Universität Trier
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- oxytocin, cortisol, emotion regulation ability, stress response, social stress, public speaking, individual differences, intranasal administration
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Administration, Intranasal, Adult, Double-Blind Method, Emotions, Fear, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Individuality, Male, Oxytocin, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Speech, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult
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