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Cited by 54Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAttachment and Relationship DynamicsHuman-Animal Interaction Studies

Psychophysiological effects of oxytocin on parent–child interactions: A literature review on oxytocin and parent–child interactions

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Szymanska, Monika, Schneider, Marie, Chateau‐Smith, Carmela, Nezelof, Sylvie, Vulliez‐Coady, Lauriane·2017·Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
DOI 10.1111/pcn.12544
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Abstract

Oxytocin (OT), often called the 'hormone of love' or 'hormone of attachment,' plays a fundamental role in the establishment and quality of parent-infant bonding. However, emerging evidence indicates that OT can also produce antisocial behavior. To clarify these effects, we review studies examining the role of endogenous and exogenous OT on several determinants of attachment: parental sensitivity, and bonding or synchrony in parent-child dyads. Contextual and individual factors moderating the effect of intranasal OT and its peripheral levels are also reviewed. Finally, potential therapeutic applications for OT and current limitations in human OT research are examined. This systematic literature review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, with two electronic databases and other bibliographic sources. We identified a total of 47 relevant studies for inclusion in our review. Most of the findings are in accordance with recent ideas that OT administration may increase parent-child prosocial interaction, showing that OT exerts beneficial effects on processes thought to promote bonding, sensitivity, and synchrony. However, we found that OT can induce antisocial behavior (e.g., anxiety) or adverse effects (modulation of maternal care recollections) that are moderated by different contextual (e.g., maltreatment level, presence of unfamiliar people) and individual (attachment style) factors. This review reinforces the importance of context- and individual-dependent factors, which must be taken into account when analyzing the psychophysiological effects of OT.

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  • The neuroendocrinological mechanisms that comprise this complex set of interactions are not yet fully known but it is apparent that oxytocin plays a significant role.

    “The neuroendocrinological mechanisms that comprise this complex set of interactions are not yet fully known but it is apparent that oxytocin plays a significant role (Szymanska et al., 2017).”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Szymanska et al. (2017)

  • According to western science, responsive care requires the implementation of consistent and accurate detection and recognition of children's overt signals, especially in times when the infant or child is distressed.

    “According to western science, responsive care requires the implementation of consistent and accurate detection and recognition of children’s overt signals, especially in times when the infant or child is distressed (Szymanska et al., 2017).”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Szymanska et al. (2017)

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Authors
Szymanska, M., Schneider, M., Chateau‐Smith, C., Nezelof, S., & Vulliez‐Coady, L.
Affiliations
  • Science and Technology Department, Laboratory of Integrative and Clinical Neuroscience, EA 481 University of Burgundy Franche‐Comté, COMUE Burgundy, CHRU Besançon France
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon (FR)
  • Université de Bourgogne (FR)
Corresponding author
Szymanska, Monika
ORCID
Venue
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-07-11
Volume
71
Issue
10
Pages
690-705
ISSN
  • 1323-1316 (ISSN-L)
  • 1440-1819
DOI
10.1111/pcn.12544
OpenAlex
W2621050118
Cited by
54
References
133
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 4
FWCI
0.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Keywords
oxytocin, parent-child interaction, parent-infant bonding, attachment, parental sensitivity, synchrony, intranasal oxytocin, antisocial behavior, anxiety, attachment styles, child abuse, prosocial behavior, oxytocin therapy
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Humans, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Parent-Child Relations, Mental Recall

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