title: Oxytocin-induced coping with stressful life events in old age depends on attachment: findings from the cross-sectional KORA Age study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whether oxytocin functions as a stress hormone in older age is unknown. We investigated oxytocin levels and the perceived stress of an adverse life event in an older population-representative sample and considered the effect of a secure/insecure attachment style on this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-fasting plasma oxytocin was measured from 952 participants (65-90 years) of the cross sectional KORA-Age study. The psychological impact of an adverse life event was assessed based on the Psychosocial Stress Questionnaire. Attachment style was determined by the Relationship-Specific Attachment Scales for Adults. Linear regression models of oxytocin, stratified for attachment style, were controlled for age, sex, and further for alcohol, smoking, and physical activity. Adjusted least squares means of oxytocin were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxytocin levels did not differ between men and women (mean, 95% confidence interval (CI), 321 (277-365) and 309 (272-345)pg/ml, respectively). Oxytocin levels were positively associated with the experience of an adverse event (n=273, 29%) versus no event (n=679, 71%), in securely attached (β estimate=0.17, standard error (SE)=0.08, P value=0.03) but not in insecure participants (-0.10, 0.09), P=0.28). Oxytocin was positively associated with diminished stress among securely attached participant (event with little suffering: β=0.35. SE=0.12, great suffering: β=0.15. SE=0.14, severe suffering: β=0.03. SE=0.12). Among participants who reported minimal suffering, insecure individuals had lower oxytocin (adjusted mean, 95%CI: 172, 127-216 pg/ml) than securely attached individuals (279, 222-352 pg/ml, P=0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These epidemiologic data support the hypothesis that oxytocin may have an attenuating effect on perceived stress due to adverse life events in old age. The conditional role of attachment style in stress-induced endogenous oxytocin production is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Epidemiologie II-Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany. Electronic address: rebecca.emeny@helmholtz-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Rebecca Thwing
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Emeny
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Muenchen-Harlaching, München, Germany; International Psychoanalytic University (IPU), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Campus Innenstadt-Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bidlingmaier
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Campus Innenstadt-Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reincke
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie-Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klug
authors.affiliation: Institut für Epidemiologie II-Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany; Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie-Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ladwig
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009769:Object Attachment; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Aging; Attachment style; Biopsychiatry; Neuroscience; Oxytocin; Psychoanalysis; Stress; Stressful life events