Salivary oxytocin and testosterone in empathic stress responding: a pilot study.
Salivary oxytocin and testosterone levels increased during the observation of a stressed partner, with oxytocin linked to stress resonance. Further studies are needed to clarify these hormonal relationships.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the oxytocin corpusSummary and findings
This study measured salivary oxytocin and testosterone levels in 108 opposite-sex dyads during a psychosocial stressor. Oxytocin increased by 16.64% and testosterone by 23.00% during the observation of a stressed partner. The findings suggest a link between oxytocin reactivity and stress resonance, while testosterone showed a negative association with stress resonance.
Abstract
Suffering the stress of others (termed empathic stress or stress contagion) may affect an individual's health and well-being. To understand the underlying hormonal processes of empathic stress, N = 108 opposite-sex dyads were tested, with one dyad partner passively observing the other undergoing a standardized psychosocial laboratory stressor. A positive link between oxytocin release and empathic stress response was hypothesized, while a negative relationship was expected for testosterone release. Associations of observer oxytocin and testosterone levels with two components of empathic stress were examined: stress resonance (i.e. synchronized observer-target responses) and vicarious stress (observer responses independent of target stress). During the passive observation of a stressed target, salivary oxytocin and testosterone levels increased by 16.64% and 23.00%, respectively, followed by a drop back to baseline levels. Supporting our hypotheses, increased observer oxytocin reactivity was linked to greater stress resonance in HF-HRV reactivity. This association was reversed in low oxytocin responders. Further, testosterone reactivity was negatively associated with stress resonance in heart rate activity. However, testosterone also showed a positive association with vicarious cortisol activity, which resembles the response pattern seen in first-hand stress exposure. We conclude that stress resonance may be the more empathy-dependent component of the empathic stress construct, aligning with previous work on the involvement of oxytocin and testosterone in empathy. To draw further conclusions about the role of oxytocin and testosterone in empathic stress response, future studies including a control group and hormone stimulation are needed.
Background
This study addresses the hormonal processes involved in empathic stress, a phenomenon where individuals experience stress due to observing others in distress. Previous research has suggested a role for oxytocin in empathy and stress responses, while testosterone's role appears more complex. Understanding these hormonal interactions could provide insights into emotional and physiological responses to empathic stress.
Methods
The study involved 108 opposite-sex dyads, where one partner observed the other undergoing a standardized psychosocial stressor. Salivary oxytocin and testosterone levels were measured before and after the observation. The primary outcomes included the changes in hormone levels and their associations with stress resonance and vicarious stress.
Results
During the observation, salivary oxytocin levels increased by 16.64% and testosterone levels increased by 23.00%. Increased oxytocin reactivity was positively associated with stress resonance, while testosterone reactivity showed a negative association with stress resonance. Additionally, testosterone was positively associated with vicarious cortisol activity.
Interpretation
The findings suggest a complex relationship between oxytocin and testosterone in the context of empathic stress, with oxytocin potentially enhancing empathic responses while testosterone may dampen them. The effect sizes, while statistically significant, may not be clinically meaningful given the small sample size and the nature of the study. The lack of a control group and the pilot nature of the study limit the ability to generalize these findings.
Key findings
- 16.64% increase in salivary oxytocin during observation, n=108.
- 23.00% increase in salivary testosterone during observation, n=108.
- Increased oxytocin reactivity linked to greater stress resonance in HF-HRV reactivity.
- Testosterone reactivity negatively associated with stress resonance in heart rate activity.
- Positive association of testosterone with vicarious cortisol activity.
Limitations
- small sample size, n=108
- pilot study design
- lacks a control group
- short duration of observation
- potential confounding factors not controlled