Anxiety, cortisol, and attachment predict plasma oxytocin
Abstract
Oxytocin and attachment seem to interact in suppressing subjective anxiety and physiological stress responses. In this study we investigated the relationships between individual differences in trait attachment scores, state and trait anxiety, plasma cortisol, and plasma oxytocin levels in healthy premenopausal women. Attachment proved to be a strong positive predictor of oxytocin levels, which were also positively predicted by cortisol levels and state and trait anxiety. The relationship between oxytocin and state anxiety was modulated by attachment scores. The present results may help interpreting seeming contradictions in the recent literature on oxytocin, attachment, and stress in humans, by suggesting that context effects determine which relationships are found in different studies: anxiolytic effects of oxytocin in a context of partner support versus stress‐ or cortisol‐induced oxytocin responses in a context of distress or increased cortisol.
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Attachment quality in adults is a strong positive predictor of oxytocin levels and moderates the relationship between oxytocin and state anxiety.
“Attachment quality in adults is a strong positive predictor of oxytocin levels and moderates the relationship between oxytocin and state anxiety (Tops et al., 2007).”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Tops et al. (2007)
Differences in adult attachment styles have been associated with modulation of endogenous oxytocin levels.
“Differences in adult attachment styles have been associated with modulation of endogenous oxytocin levels.”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Tops et al. (2007)
Oxytocin exerts a stress- and anxiety-buffering effect and interacts with neurotransmitters involved in reward circuits, possibly increasing resilience by pre-programming the individual to perceive rewards and positive emotions.
“Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that exerts a stress- and anxiety-buffering effect and also interacts with neurotransmitters involved in the reward circuits in the brain 62, possibly further increasing resilience by ‘pre-programming’ the individual to readily perceive rewards and positive emotions.”
From Resilience in mental health: linking psychological and neurobiological perspectives. (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
Increased oxytocin activity during distress and its attenuating effects on HPA axis and autonomic nervous system activity may indicate a regulatory function of oxytocin in physiological stress.
“Increased oxytocin activity during distress [34,35] and its attenuating effects on HPA axis [36] and autonomic nervous system activity [37] may indicate a regulatory function of oxytocin in physiological stress.”
From Efficacy of oxytocin administration early after psychotrauma in preventing the development of PTSD: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial (2014) · cites this paper as [34]
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RetractedBhandari, R., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., van der Veen, R., Parsons, C. E., Young, K. S., Grewen, K. M., Stein, A., Kringelbach, M. L., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2014) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.04.028 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
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“Attachment quality in adults is a strong positive predictor of oxytocin levels and moderates the relationship between oxytocin and state anxiety (Tops et al., 2007).”
BackgroundNikolaou, K., Kapoukranidou, D., Ndungu, S., Floros, G., & Kovatsi, L. (2017) · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs · doi:10.1080/02791072.2017.1312644 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
- Authors
- Tops, M., Van Peer, J. M., Korf, J., Wijers, A. A., & Tucker, D. M.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
- University of Groningen (NL)
- University of Oregon (US)
- Venue
- Psychophysiology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-03-19
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 444-449
- ISSN
- 0048-5772 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8986
- OpenAlex
- W2005027243
- Cited by
- 197
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 12.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychophysiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- oxytocin, attachment, anxiety, cortisol, state anxiety, trait anxiety, plasma oxytocin, premenopausal women, partner support, stress response, individual differences
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Arousal, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Individuality, Middle Aged, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Personality Inventory, Reference Values, Temperament
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