Attachment security and recent stressful life events predict oxytocin levels: a pilot study of pregnant women with high levels of cumulative psychosocial adversity

Samuel, Simcha; Hayton, Barbara; Gold, Ian; Feeley, Nancy; Carter, C Sue; Zelkowitz, Phyllis

doi:10.1080/14616734.2015.1029951

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…Thus, the OT system might be activated, which could promote approach-oriented responses and help to maintain social engagement with their abusive caregivers (Blascovich and Mendes, 2010 ). The reason why the OT system remains at a higher level until adulthood is unknown; however, less severe forms of childhood maltreatment might be associated with attachment style or the marital relationship (Bailey et al, 2007 ), which is associated with OT concentration (Samuel et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of oxytocin level and less severe forms of childhood maltreatment history among healthy Japanese adults involved with child care

Mizuki

Fujiwara

2015

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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Background: Oxytocin (OT) is known to play a role in stress regulation. The association between childhood maltreatment history and neuropeptide OT concentration is inconsistent due to the varying degrees of severity of childhood maltreatment, among other contributing factors. Less severe forms of childhood maltreatment history might enhance OT concentrations as a response to coping with social stress within the family. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between less severe forms of childhood maltreatment history and OT concentrations among healthy adults.Method: Eighty adults (49 women and 31 men) with 18- to 48-month-old children were recruited using a snowball sample in Tokyo, Japan. Urine samples were collected for OT measurement. Less severe (low and moderate) childhood maltreatment history, including physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse, was assessed using the self-report questionnaire, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.Results: Less severe physical abuse was significantly associated with higher OT concentration after adjusting for age (p = 0.014). Also, less severe forms of physical abuse were independently significantly associated with higher OT concentration after controlling for other types of childhood maltreatment (p = 0.027). A positive dose-response association between the number of less severe childhood maltreatment types and OT concentration was observed (p = 0.031).Conclusion: A history of less severe forms of childhood physical abuse was associated with higher OT concentration in healthy adults. Poly-victimization of several types of less severe childhood maltreatment was also associated with higher OT concentrations. Less severe forms of childhood maltreatment might enhance OT concentrations in order to cope with social stress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of oxytocin level and less severe forms of childhood maltreatment history among healthy Japanese adults involved with child care

Mizuki

Fujiwara

2015

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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“…Infants or children who receive less synchronous, sensitive, or responsive caregiving show blunted salivary OT levels, both at baseline and in response to social cues . Adults who retrospectively report such early histories similarly display blunting of OT in plasma or serum, both at baseline and in response to social cues . A few fMRI studies have linked these blunted peripheral OT functions to the dysregulated activity of OT‐innervated brain regions, including the HYP, VS, and AMY .…”

Section: Oxytocin Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…79,80 Adults who retrospectively report such early histories similarly display blunting of OT in plasma or serum, both at baseline and in response to social cues. 39,81,82 A few fMRI studies have linked these blunted peripheral OT functions to the dysregulated activity of OT-innervated brain regions, including the HYP, VS, and AMY. 39,83,84 During processing of socially salient cues, suboptimal early history emerges as an important modulator of the activity of these brain regions, 39,85 dampening the reward salience of social cues (possibly via actions on the VS and VTA) while enhancing stress arousal (possibly via actions on the AMY).…”

Section: Molecular Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early adverse experience and substance addiction: dopamine, oxytocin, and glucocorticoid pathways

Kim

Kwok

Mayes

et al. 2016

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

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Substance addiction may follow a chronic, relapsing course and critically undermine the physical and psychological well-being of the affected individual and the social units of which the individual is a member. Despite the public health burden associated with substance addiction, treatment options remain suboptimal, with relapses often seen. The present review synthesizes growing insights from animal and human research to shed light upon developmental and neurobiological pathways that may increase susceptibility to addiction. We examine the dopamine system, the oxytocin system, and the glucocorticoid system, as they are particularly relevant to substance addiction. Our aim is to delineate how early adverse experience may induce long-lasting alterations in each of these systems at molecular, neuroendocrine, and behavioral levels and ultimately lead to heightened vulnerability to substance addiction. We further discuss how substance addiction in adulthood may increase the risk of suboptimal caregiving for the next generation, perpetuating the intergenerational cycle of early adverse experiences and addiction.

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“…A pattern of insecure attachment has also shown consistent links to OT functioning in adulthood. Peripheral OT levels are lower in mothers who have insecure forms of attachment (Samuel et al., ; Strathearn et al., ). The reduced densities of OT receptors in brain regions critical for attachment formation are believed to underlie both the mother's insecure attachment and her low OT synthesis.…”

Section: Factors Influencing Oxytocin‐related Maternal Brain Plasticitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, in humans, the body of evidence demonstrating the role of OT in buffering against the deleterious effects of stress on maternal adaptation continues to grow (Zelkowitz et al., ). Negative links have also been established between levels of perinatal stress and OT functions in pregnancy and postpartum (Samuel et al., ).…”

Section: Factors Influencing Oxytocin‐related Maternal Brain Plasticitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin and Maternal Brain Plasticity

Kim

Strathearn

2016

New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development

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Although dramatic postnatal changes in maternal behavior have long been noted, we are only now beginning to understand the neurobiological mechanisms that support this transition. The present paper synthesizes growing insights from both animal and human research to provide an overview of the plasticity of the mother’s brain, with a particular emphasis on the oxytocin system. We examine plasticity observed within the oxytocin system and discuss how these changes mediate an array of other adaptations observed within the maternal brain. We outline factors that affect the oxytocin-mediated plasticity of the maternal brain and review evidence linking disruptions in oxytocin functions to challenges in maternal adaptation. We conclude by suggesting a strategy for intervention with mothers who may be at risk for maladjustment during this transition to motherhood, while highlighting areas where further research is needed.

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Attachment security and recent stressful life events predict oxytocin levels: a pilot study of pregnant women with high levels of cumulative psychosocial adversity

Cited by 15 publications

References 80 publications

Association of oxytocin level and less severe forms of childhood maltreatment history among healthy Japanese adults involved with child care

Association of oxytocin level and less severe forms of childhood maltreatment history among healthy Japanese adults involved with child care

Early adverse experience and substance addiction: dopamine, oxytocin, and glucocorticoid pathways

Oxytocin and Maternal Brain Plasticity

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