The Biology of Resilience
Summary
Positive social relationships have consistently been associated with better health, although the neurobiological underpinnings of these observed effects remain largely unknown. The overall goal of the proposed work is to explore novel biological pathways that may explain how social relationships influence health. Recent theorizing suggests that the oxytocin system may underlie some of the observed beneficial effects. Four hypotheses will be examined: 1. Oxytocin ameliorates the deleterious neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and subjective effects of stress. 2. Oxytocin and social support have similar and additive stress-buffering effects. 3. Effects of oxytocin are evident among younger and older adults. 4. Effects of oxytocin are stronger in women vs men.
Timeline
- Start
- 2009-02
- Primary completion
- 2012-04
- Completion
- 2012-04
Outcome
Mixed primary results
registry analysis (superiority or other test); Oxytocin Group vs Placebo Group; p = 0.03; Mean Difference (Final Values) 3.4; t-test, 2 sided NCT01011465 ↗
registry analysis (superiority or other test); Oxytocin Group vs Placebo Group; p = 0.43; Mean Difference (Final Values) 0.42; t-test, 2 sided NCT01011465 ↗
registry analysis (superiority or other test); Oxytocin Group vs Placebo Group; p = 0.83; Mean Difference (Final Values) -0.03; t-test, 2 sided NCT01011465 ↗
Publications
- Background Kubzansky LD, Mendes WB, Appleton A, Block J, Adler GK. Protocol for an experimental investigation of the roles of oxytocin and social support in neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and subjective responses to stress across age and gender. BMC Public Health. 2009 Dec 21;9:481. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-481.
- Results Kubzansky LD, Mendes WB, Appleton AA, Block J, Adler GK. A heartfelt response: Oxytocin effects on response to social stress in men and women. Biol Psychol. 2012 Apr;90(1):1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.02.010. Epub 2012 Feb 23.
Drugs
| Evaluation | Drug | Modality | Dose | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Oxytocin | Peptide | 24 iu | Intranasal |
Indications
No indication recorded.