Coping style moderates the effect of intranasal oxytocin on the mood response to interpersonal stress
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests self-administration of intranasal oxytocin may facilitate social interaction by attenuating the stress response to interpersonal conflict. Currently, no published research has documented whether intraindividual factors moderate the effect of intranasal oxytocin on the emotional response to stress. The aim of the present study was to determine whether coping style moderates the effect of intranasal oxytocin on mood in response to an interpersonal stressor in healthy men and women. In a double-blind placebo-controlled experiment, 100 undergraduate students (50 women) participated in the Yale Interpersonal Stressor (YIPS: Stroud, Tanofsky-Kraff, Wilfley, & Salovey, 2000), a live social rejection paradigm. Prior to the YIPS, participants were randomly assigned to self-administer either intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or a placebo. Coping was measured using the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. Multiple regression analyses predicting stress-related changes in anxiety revealed a significant Drug × Emotion-oriented coping × Sex interaction [pr2 = .06, b = 6.074, t(91) = -2.526, p = .014]. Follow-up analyses using simple slopes revealed self-administration of intranasal oxytocin reduced anxiety in response to the YIPS relative to the placebo in women high in emotion-oriented coping [b = 4.487, t(91) = 2.09, p < .05], but not in women low in emotion-oriented coping, or men. The results suggest that intraindividual factors modulate the effect of intranasal oxytocin on the affective response to stress. Intranasal oxytocin appears to be particularly beneficial to women who endorse high levels of emotion-oriented coping, who may be vulnerable to the negative impact of stress.
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Some data suggest women may be more responsive to oxytocin than men, but a recent meta-analysis indicated data are insufficient to analyze gender differences even in trust and facial recognition.
“Some data suggest that women may be more responsive to OT than males (41), but a recent meta-analysis indicated data are insufficient to analyze gender differences even in the best studied areas, trust and facial recognition (40).”
From Chronic intranasal oxytocin causes long-term impairments in partner preference formation in male prairie voles (2013) · cites this paper as [40]
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 Cardoso et al., 2012
Intranasal oxytocin is less likely to influence already adaptive stress responses, whereas individuals with more challenging interpersonal histories who are more prone to maladaptive social stress reactivity are more likely to reap intranasal oxytocin's benefits.
“Perhaps our findings, in combination with those from previous studies (Bartz et al., 2010; Cardoso et al., 2012), indicate that intranasal oxytocin is less likely to influence already adaptive stress responses, whereas individuals with more challenging interpersonal histories who are more prone to maladaptive social stress reactivity are more likely to reap intranasal oxytocin’s benefits.”
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 Cardoso et al., 2012
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“OT might act anxiolytically (Carter et al., 2001; Heinrichs et al., 2001, 2003; Cardoso et al., 2012; de Oliveira et al., 2012; for reviews see Meyer-Lindenberg et al., 2011; Striepens et al., 2011; MacDonald and Feifel, 2012) decreasing discomfort and concern for one’s own self.”
Background
- Authors
- Cardoso, C., Linnen, A.-M., Joober, R., & Ellenbogen, M. A.
- Affiliations
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CA)
- Venue
- Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 2012-04
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 84-91
- ISSN
- 1064-1297 (ISSN-L)
- 1936-2293
- OpenAlex
- W2055411431
- Cited by
- 60
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 9.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- 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
- intranasal oxytocin, coping styles, emotion-focused coping, interpersonal stress, social rejection, anxiety, mood, sex differences, moderation, stress response
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Administration, Intranasal, Adolescent, Adult, Affect, Anxiety, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Oxytocin, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Regression Analysis, Sex Characteristics, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult
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