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Study · Systematic review · 2021

2 results

Intranasal oxytocin administration but not peripheral oxytocin regulates behaviors of attachment insecurity: A meta-analysis.

Zhang K, Fan Y, Yu R, Tian Y, Liu J, Gong P

Psychoneuroendocrinology24 Jul 2021Cited by 14 (Europe PMC)

PMID34340132 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105369 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-34340132
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 study2

1 result from studies that gave the peptide. 1 result from people.

  1. 01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis, intranasal oxytocin significantly reduced behaviors of attachment insecurity in neutral contexts, particularly attachment avoidance.

    In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis, intranasal oxytocin reduced insecure attachment behavior in neutral situations, especially avoidance.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseBehaviors of attachment insecurity after intranasal oxytocin
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    (2) intranasal OT administration significantly reduced behaviors of attachment insecurity of neutral contexts, particularly behaviors of attachment avoidance.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Here, we conducted - meta-analyses to estimate the associations between peripheral OT level (e.g., blood and salivary OT) and attachment (i.e., attachment dimensions and behaviors of attachment insecurity) and examine the effects of intranasal OT administration on behaviors of attachment insecurity.

Natural levels measured1

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

  1. 02HumanEndogenous levelSystematic reviewOther

    In a meta-analysis, peripheral oxytocin level was not significantly associated with attachment dimensions or behaviors of attachment insecurity.

    In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis, the body's own oxytocin level in blood or saliva was not linked to attachment anxiety, avoidance or insecure behavior.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changePeripheral oxytocin level and attachment
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Peripheral OT level was not significantly associated with attachment dimensions (e.g., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) and behaviors of attachment insecurity;
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Here, we conducted - meta-analyses to estimate the associations between peripheral OT level (e.g., blood and salivary OT) and attachment (i.e., attachment dimensions and behaviors of attachment insecurity) and examine the effects of intranasal OT administration on behaviors of attachment insecurity.

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

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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