Intranasal oxytocin administration but not peripheral oxytocin regulates behaviors of attachment insecurity: A meta-analysis. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Kejin; Fan, Yuhe; Yu, Rongjun; Tian, Yajie; Liu, Jinting; Gong, Pingyuan
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 132(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Attachment dimension -- Attachment insecurity -- Attachment behavior -- Peripheral oxytocin -- Intranasal oxytocin administration; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105369
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Abstract: In light of the roles of oxytocin (OT) in social bonding and interpersonal relationship, studies have examined the roles of OT in human attachment, but by and large previous findings are inconsistent. Here, we conducted - meta-analyses to estimate the associations between peripheral OT level (e.g., blood and salivary OT) and attachment (i.e., attachment dimensions and behaviors of attachment insecurity) and examine the effects of intranasal OT administration on behaviors of attachment insecurity. The analyses indicated that: (1) Peripheral OT level was not significantly associated with attachment dimensions (e.g., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) and behaviors of attachment insecurity; (2) intranasal OT administration significantly reduced behaviors of attachment insecurity of neutral contexts, particularly behaviors of attachment avoidance. The findings suggest that intranasal OT administration is an available approach for reducing behaviors of attachment insecurity of interpersonal situations with ambiguous social cues, which implicates suggestions for therapeutic treatments of attachment-related dysfunctions. Highlights: Peripheral OT level is not associated with attachment dimensions. Peripheral OT level is not associated with behaviors of attachment insecurity. Intranasal OT administration significantly reduces behaviors of attachment avoidance.