Cited by 275Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorStress Responses and CortisolNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Relation of oxytocin to psychological stress responses and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity in older women

Taylor, Shelley E., Gonzaga, Gian C., Klein, Laura Cousino, Hu, Peifeng, Greendale, Gail A., Seeman, Teresa E.·2006·Psychosomatic Medicine

Abstract

Objective: Animal research suggests that oxytocin (OT) plays a role in stress responses and that in females, this role is modulated by estrogen. Yet little is known about the relation of OT to human stress responses. This study was conducted to examine the relations between estrogen activity and OT, identify stressors distinctively associated with elevations in OT, and investigate whether OT is related to cardiovascular and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activity in a laboratory challenge paradigm. Methods: Seventy-three postmenopausal women who were on hormone therapy (HT) or not completed questionnaires assessing psychological distress and social relationships and then participated in a laboratory stress challenge (Trier Social Stress Task), during which OT, cortisol, and blood pressure were assessed. Results: HT was significantly associated with higher plasma OT. Controlling for HT, elevated plasma OT was significantly associated with gaps in social relationships, with less positive relationships with a primary partner, and with elevated cortisol levels. OT was not associated with stress reactivity or recovery. Conclusion: In women, plasma OT signals relationship stress and is associated with elevated cortisol; it does not appear to significantly affect cortisol or blood pressure responses to acute stress. OT = oxytocin; HPA = hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical; HT = hormone therapy; TSST = Trier Social Stress Test; CAD = coronary artery disease; CHF = coronary heart failure; CRC = UCLA Clinical Research Center; BP = blood pressure; SCL-90 = Brief Symptom Inventory; PANAS = Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; RPM = rotations per minute; HLM = hierarchical linear modeling; GCA = growth curve analysis.

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Crossref · 10.1097/01.psy.0000203242.95990.74

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  • Increased endogenous oxytocin levels within the parent-infant relationship promote affiliative and nurturant behaviors such as tend-befriend behavior, but in in-group vs. out-group interactions, oxytocin supports affiliative tend-defend motivations and behavior.

    “For example, increased endogenous oxytocin levels within the parent-infant relationship promote affiliative and nurturant behaviors such as tend-befriend behavior but when engaged in in-group vs. out-group interactions, oxytocin supports affiliative tend-defend motivations and behavior (Taylor et al., 2006; Campbell, 2008; Crockford et al., 2014).”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Taylor et al., 2006

  • The association between endogenous oxytocin and prosociality may not be a direct linear association but may depend upon context.

    “However, the association between endogenous oxytocin and prosociality may not be a direct linear association but may depend upon context.”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Taylor et al., 2006

  • There is a positive correlation between oxytocin plasma concentrations and attachment anxiety and interpersonal distress.

    “Moreover, there are also reports documenting a positive correlation between OXT plasma concentrations and attachment anxiety (72) and interpersonal distress (61,73).”
  • This role of OT is influenced by an individual's previous experiences and difficulties in interpersonal relationships (Tabak et al., 2011), including difficulties with primary partner (Taylor et al., 2006), own infant (Feldman et al., 2011), or romantic partner (Marazziti et al., 2006).

    “Studies imply this role is influenced by an individual’s previous experiences and difficulties in interpersonal relationships (Tabak et al., 2011): difficulties in relationships with primary partner (Taylor et al., 2006), or own infant (i.e. interactive stress) (Feldman et al., 2011), or romantic partner (Marazziti et al., 2006).”

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Authors
Taylor, S. E., Gonzaga, G. C., Klein, L. C., Hu, P., Greendale, G. A., & Seeman, T. E.
Affiliations
Pennsylvania State University (US)
Corresponding author
Taylor, Shelley E.
Venue
Psychosomatic Medicine
Published
2006-03
Volume
68
Issue
2
Pages
238-245
ISSN
0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2063164808
Cited by
275
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 18
FWCI
14.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1r03ag017678-01)
  • National Institute on Aging (AG-10415, P60AG010415, AG17678)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH15750, T32MH015750)
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01RR000080)
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, psychological stress, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, cortisol, postmenopausal women, hormone therapy, estrogen, interpersonal relationships, relationship stress, blood pressure, Trier Social Stress Test, stress reactivity, psychological distress
MeSH terms
Aged, Blood Pressure, Estrogens, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Interpersonal Relations, Middle Aged, Oxytocin, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Social Isolation, Stress, Psychological, Postmenopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy

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