Subscribe our newsletter and get notifications to stay update
A spritz of the so-called “love hormone” might be the key to easing persistent feelings of loneliness. In a 2014 study, a team of European and Israeli researchers tested whether oxytocin, the hormone released when people bond, hug or feel connected, could help bridge the gap for those struggling with social isolation.The results? A nasal spray of oxytocin significantly reduced acute feelings of loneliness in participants, especially during group therapy sessions, even months after treatment.In the study, 78 men and women were given a dose of oxytocin 30 minutes before their weekly group therapy sessions.While the hormone didn’t drastically impact long-term measures like generally perceived loneliness, quality of life, or stress, participants who received oxytocin reported feeling less lonely in the short term compared to those on a placebo.Notably, those who got an extra dose of the hormone also found it easier to bond with others.“Oxytocin was able to strengthen the positive relationship with the other group members and reduce acute feelings of loneliness right from the start,” said Jana Lieberz, a faculty member at Germany’s University of Bonn and the paper’s senior author.
“It could therefore be helpful to support patients with this at the start of psychotherapy.”Despite the positive results, researchers caution against viewing oxytocin as a magic bullet.They also emphasized that therapy isn’t always necessary to reduce feelings of loneliness. However, they noted that the study suggests that oxytocin could one day be used to play a supportive role in therapeutic settings.
Further study is needed to determine whether these short-term benefits can translate into lasting change.Oxytocin, often called the “cuddle hormone,” is produced in the hypothalamus and released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland. Positive physical connection such as hugging, kissing, and sexual intimacy have all been shown to trigger the hormone’s releas...