An overview of the use of oxytocin measures in leisure studies

Abstract

For family leisure scholars, the growing understanding of neurobiological mechanisms in human behavior, emotions, and relationships offer new avenues for understanding the impact of family activities on family relationships. Oxytocin (OT) is a key neurohormone associated with bonding, attachment, emotions, and social memory. In both men and women, OT strengthens bonds in parent-child and romantic relationships. This paper considers the value of and orients family leisure scholars to the use of oxytocin measures in their research. Specifically, we provide an overview of the methodology for identifying which factors of family activities stimulate the release of endogenous oxytocin (i.e., methodology for collecting, assaying, and analyzing the endogenous OT), and we provide recommendations to family scholars for future use of oxytocin measures in their research.