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.

Conditions

• Oxytocin
• Placebo

Interventions

DRUG

intranasal oxytocin

The aqueous form of oxytocin (oxytocin injection, synthetic) in 10 ml vials is inserted into a spray bottle. The spray bottle is calibrated so that emptying the spray bottle results in delivering 24 IU of oxytocin. No dilution of the original aqueous form of the oxytocin is necessary. 24 IU of oxytocin will be administered at one time only during the procedure. Approximately half the dose will be sprayed into each nostril. Administration will stop after 24 IUs of oxytocin have been administered. Duration of administration is anticipated to be 2-5 minutes

DRUG

Placebo

Participants in the placebo condition receive an equivalent amount of saline for intranasal spray administration. The placebo will be administered at one time only during the procedure. Approximately half the dose will be sprayed into each nostril. Administration will stop after the full amount in the spray bottle has been used. Duration of administration is anticipated to be 2-5 minutes

BEHAVIORAL

Social support

Prior to coming to the laboratory, participants are randomly assigned to one of two conditions, requiring them to appear alone or accompanied by a partner. If instructed to bring a same-sex close friend (excluding spouses, participants are joined by their support partners join participants at the start of the stress exposure. The social support condition includes a number of strategies designed to standardize the type of support available to participants across individuals.

BEHAVIORAL

No Social Support

Prior to coming to the laboratory, participants are randomly assigned to one of two conditions, requiring them to appear alone or accompanied by a partner. They are then instructed to bring a same-sex close friend (excluding spouses) with them, or to come alone. If they come to the laboratory without a friend, they engage in all the laboratory procedures without a friend present.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Brigham and Women's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Laura D Kubzansky, PhD · Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

22 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2009-02-28

Primary Completion

2012-04-30

Completion

2012-04-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations