Social closeness increases salivary progesterone in humans.
We examined whether interpersonal closeness increases salivary progesterone. One hundred and sixty female college students (80 dyads) were randomly assigned to participate in either a closeness task with a partner versus a neutral task with a partner. Those exposed to the closeness induction had higher levels of progesterone relative to those exposed to the neutral task. Across conditions, progesterone increase one week later predicted the willingness to sacrifice for the partner. These results are discussed in terms of the links between social contact, stress, and health.
VA Health Services Research and Development Center of Excellence, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. stebrown@umich.edu
Stephanie L
SL
Brown
Barbara L
BL
Fredrickson
Michelle M
MM
Wirth
Michael J
MJ
Poulin
Elizabeth A
EA
Meier
Emily D
ED
Heaphy
Michael D
MD
Cohen
Oliver C
OC
Schultheiss
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012919:Social Behavior
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011374:Progesterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone