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Study · Randomized controlled trial · 2021

6 results

Intranasal oxytocin may help maintain romantic bonds by decreasing jealousy evoked by either imagined or real partner infidelity.

Zheng X, Xu X, Xu L, Kou J, Luo L, Ma X, Kendrick KM

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)18 Feb 2021Cited by 9 (Europe PMC)

PMID33601928 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1177/0269881121991576 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-33601928
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In heterosexual couples, intranasal oxytocin decreased jealousy ratings toward imagined emotional and sexual infidelity by a partner in both sexes versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn couples, nasal oxytocin lowered jealousy ratings about imagined partner infidelity in both men and women compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseJealousy ratings toward imagined partner infidelity
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin primarily decreased jealousy and arousal ratings towards imagined emotional and sexual infidelity by a partner in both sexes
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This study aimed to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) on romantic jealousy in both males and females in imagined and real contexts.
    Summary · context
    Seventy heterosexual couples participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design study.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In heterosexual couples, intranasal oxytocin decreased arousal ratings toward imagined emotional and sexual infidelity by a partner in both sexes versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn couples, nasal oxytocin lowered arousal ratings about imagined partner infidelity in both men and women compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseArousal ratings toward imagined partner infidelity
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin primarily decreased jealousy and arousal ratings towards imagined emotional and sexual infidelity by a partner in both sexes.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This study aimed to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) on romantic jealousy in both males and females in imagined and real contexts.
    Summary · context
    Seventy heterosexual couples participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design study.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In heterosexual couples playing Cyberball, intranasal oxytocin reduced romantic jealousy ratings for stranger players, particularly the rival, versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn couples playing a ball game, nasal oxytocin reduced jealousy toward stranger players, especially the rival, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseRomantic jealousy ratings in the Cyberball game
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    under oxytocin they showed reduced romantic jealousy and arousal ratings for stranger players, particularly the rival one
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This study aimed to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) on romantic jealousy in both males and females in imagined and real contexts.
    Summary · context
    Seventy heterosexual couples participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design study.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In heterosexual couples playing Cyberball, intranasal oxytocin reduced arousal ratings for stranger players, particularly the rival, versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn couples playing a ball game, nasal oxytocin reduced arousal toward stranger players, especially the rival, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseArousal ratings for stranger players in the Cyberball game
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    under oxytocin they showed reduced romantic jealousy and arousal ratings for stranger players, particularly the rival one
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This study aimed to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) on romantic jealousy in both males and females in imagined and real contexts.
    Summary · context
    Seventy heterosexual couples participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design study.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In heterosexual couples playing Cyberball, intranasal oxytocin reduced reported negative feelings versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn couples playing a ball game, nasal oxytocin reduced negative feelings compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseNegative feelings while playing Cyberball
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    and reported reduced negative and increased positive feelings while playing the game.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This study aimed to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) on romantic jealousy in both males and females in imagined and real contexts.
    Summary · context
    Seventy heterosexual couples participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design study.
  6. 06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In heterosexual couples playing Cyberball, intranasal oxytocin increased reported positive feelings versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn couples playing a ball game, nasal oxytocin increased positive feelings compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreasePositive feelings while playing Cyberball
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    and reported reduced negative and increased positive feelings while playing the game.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This study aimed to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) on romantic jealousy in both males and females in imagined and real contexts.
    Summary · context
    Seventy heterosexual couples participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design study.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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