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Cited by 298Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAttachment and Relationship DynamicsStress Responses and Cortisol

Preliminary Research on Plasma Oxytocin in Normal Cycling Women: Investigating Emotion and Interpersonal Distress

Turner, Rebecca A., Altemus, Margaret, Enos, Teresa, Cooper, Bruce, McGuinness, Teresa·1999·Psychiatry
DOI 10.1080/00332747.1999.11024859
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Abstract

The neurohormone oxytocin is responsible for initiating childbirth and the let-down reflex in lactating women and is released during sexual orgasm. Oxytocin has been thought of as an affiliation hormone because research on nonhuman mammals has demonstrated that it plays a key role in the initiation of maternal behavior and the formation of adult pair bonds. It has been speculated that social stimuli may induce oxytocin release and that oxytocin may make positive social contact more rewarding. Data are presented from an initial study to examine change in plasma oxytocin in response to a standard imagery task that elicits emotion related to attachment. Twenty-five normal cycling, healthy women underwent imagery tasks and completed questionnaires on attachment and interpersonal problems. Blood draws (5 ml) were bone via an indwelling catheter before, during, and after three interventions (massage, positive emotion, and negative emotion) and to establish baselines. Overall, the data showed a tendency for oxytocin levels to be elevated in response to relaxation massage and decreased in response to sad emotion. There were individual differences in response to the interventions. Those who showed evidence of increased oxytocin levels for positive emotion and massage and who maintained oxytocin levels during negative emotion were less likely to report interpersonal problems associated with intrusiveness. Maintaining oxytocin levels during sadness was also correlated with lower anxiety in close relationships. Women who were in a couple relationship had greater increases in oxytocin in response to positive emotion. In contrast, higher basal levels of oxytocin were associated with greater interpersonal distress. These data suggest that peripheral secretion of oxytocin in response to emotional stimuli is associated with the individual's interpersonal characteristics.

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  • OT is released in humans during hugging, touching, massage, nipple stimulation, and orgasm, and promotes increased eye gaze, trust, and attention to emotional cues.

    “OT is released in humans during hugging, touching, massage, nipple stimulation, and orgasm (Carmichael et al 1987; Christensson et al 1989; Turner et al 1999; Light et al 2000; Light et al 2005), and promotes increased eye gaze, trust, and attention to emotional cues (Kosfeld et al 2005; Domes et al 2007; Guastella et al 2008; Andari et al 2010).”

    From The behavioral, anatomical and pharmacological parallels between social attachment, love and addiction (2012) · cites this paper as Turner et al 1999

  • In humans, only affiliative touch has been associated with increased salivary oxytocin and plasma oxytocin levels.

    “In humans, however, only affiliative touch has been associated with increased salivary oxytocin (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2008) and plasma oxytocin levels (Turner et al., 1999).”

    From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Turner et al., 1999

  • In women, a raise in plasma oxytocin following gentle massage occurred only in women who did not report relationship anxiety.

    “In a study with women, Turner et al. (1999) showed that a raise in plasma oxytocin following gentle massage occurred only in women who did not report relationship anxiety.”

    From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Turner et al., 1999

  • Older women who simultaneously maintained high baseline levels of plasma oxytocin and cortisol also had chronic relationship anxiety.

    “Turner et al. (1999) and Taylor et al. (2006) found that older women who simultaneously maintained high baseline levels of plasma oxytocin and cortisol also had chronic relationship anxiety.”

    From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Turner et al., 1999

  • In women, high basal plasma oxytocin levels were associated both with relationship anxiety and attenuated plasma oxytocin levels following massage or positive emotion.

    “The results from Bales et al. (2013) to some extent reflect those of a study on women examining endogenous oxytocin levels, where high basal plasma oxytocin levels were associated both with relationship anxiety and attenuated plasma oxytocin levels following massage or positive emotion (Turner et al., 1999).”

    From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Turner et al., 1999

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Authors
Turner, R. A., Altemus, M., Enos, T., Cooper, B., & McGuinness, T.
Affiliations
Alliant University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychiatry
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
1999-05
Volume
62
Issue
2
Pages
97-113
ISSN
  • 0033-2747 (ISSN-L)
  • 1943-281X
DOI
10.1080/00332747.1999.11024859
OpenAlex
W1876617850
Cited by
298
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 17
FWCI
12.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5m01rr000079-42)
  • National Center for Research Resources (5-MO1-RR00079)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
plasma oxytocin, attachment, interpersonal distress, relaxation massage, positive emotions, sadness, couple relationships, individual differences
MeSH terms
Adult, Arousal, Emotions, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Menstrual Cycle, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Reference Values

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