Oxytocin, friendship, and dealing with emotions

Susceptibility for stress-related psychopathology, e.g. anxiety disorders, may arise in part when individuals are not able to form stable, long-lasting bonds, and to profit from the stress-buffering effects of social support. Oxytocin has been shown to play an important role in attachment to others and prosocial behaviour. However, it is yet unclear whether, how, and for whom oxytocin may be used in a clinical setting, most notably because many individual differences exist in the stress-buffering effects of oxytocin. We hypothesize that oxytocin may increase the stress-buffering effects of social support, but that this effect depends on individual variations in attachment, parenting styles and autonomy-connectedness. These effects may also be more pronounced in socially stressful situations, compared with a general stressor. Further, in line with the hypothesis that interpersonal functioning is essential for psychological well-being, this study tests whether oxytocin and social support affect the interpersonal closeness one is comfortable with, and whether this varies for different emotions of the other person. Individual differences in attachment, parenting experiences during childhood and autonomy-connectedness are hypothesized to influence preferred interpersonal closeness and stress during this task.

The aim of the study is to examine whether intranasal oxytocin enhances beneficial effects of social support during stress

1 labession. Self reported stress (STAI short form) and salivary cortisol will be measured at 5 time points. Physiological reactivity (heart rate) will be measured during mental (virtual version of the Trier Social Stress Test) and physical stress (Cold Pressor Test).

A nasal oxytocin spray containing 24 IU oxytocin (6 puffs) is administered once. This will be compared with a placebo nasal spray (between-subjects design).