Effects of partner support on resting oxytocin, cortisol, norepinephrine, and blood pressure before and after warm partner contact.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether the magnitude of plasma oxytocin (OT), norepinephrine (NE), cortisol, and blood pressure (BP) responses before and after a brief episode of warm contact (WC) with the spouse/partner may be related to the strength of perceived partner support.


METHODS
Subjects were 38 cohabiting couples (38 men, 38 women) aged 20 to 49 years. All underwent 10 minutes of resting baseline alone, 10 minutes of WC together with their partner, and 10 minutes of postcontact rest alone.


RESULTS
Greater partner support (based on self-report) was related to higher plasma oxytocin in men and women across the protocol before and after WC. In women, higher partner support was correlated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) during solitary rest after WC but not before. Also, higher OT in women was linked to lower BP at baseline and to lower NE at all 4 measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater partner support is linked to higher OT for both men and women; however, the importance of OT and its potentially cardioprotective effects on sympathetic activity and BP may be greater for women.
Grewen
Karen M
KM
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. karen_grewen@med.unc.edu
Girdler
Susan S
SS
Amico
Janet
J
Light
Kathleen C
KC
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*
D010121:Oxytocin; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine