The Role of Oxytocin in Romantic Partnerships: A Systematic Review

Abstract

A variety of theories explain how oxytocin affects interpersonal relationships (e.g., tend and befriend, social salience, calm and connection). While each of these theories has strong support, no one theory seems to encapsulate the role of oxytocin in romantic partnerships. This systematic review sought to aggregate findings from dyadic research to gain a greater understanding of oxytocin and romantic relationships. This systematic review was conducted consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). Using three academic databases, we compiled all the research published in peer-reviewed journals with both romantic partners and measuring both endogenous and exogenous oxytocin as well as gene polymorphorisms related to oxytocin. The literature search yielded 27 articles that included statistical modeling testing interdependence between couples. Using a team-based approach to thematic synthesis, five analytic themes emerged including oxytocin synchrony, physical predictors, genetic influences, relationship dynamics, and factors external to the romantic relationship. Our research highlights oxytocin levels may be linked between romantic partners and inter-partner behaviors and relationship dynamics predict oxytocin levels. The amalgam of findings suggests when oxytocin is released and how genetics influence behaviors in romantic partnerships may be the result of a more complicated process than many theories are able to explain. Research has consistently supported co-regulation (i.e., physical, emotional) between romantic partners and oxytocin fitting under this hypothesis should be considered. As physiological interdependence suggests an adaptive, evolving, time-dependent process may help explain the role of oxytocin and romantic partnerships during homeostatic states.