In the present study we aimed to explore the possible relationships between plasma oxytocin levels and romantic attachment in a group of healthy subjects.

Forty-five healthy subjects with no family or personal history of any major psychiatric disorder were enrolled in the study. Thirty-three subjects had a current romantic relationship with a mean duration of 80.5 months (ranging from a minimum of one month to a maximum of 25 years); the remaining 12 had no current relationship. The romantic attachment was assessed using the Italian version of the “Experiences in Close Relationships” (ECR).

Plasma oxytocin levels were unrelated with age, gender, marital status, or length of the relationship and ranged between 0.13 and 4.59 pg/ml (mean+SD: 1.53+1.18). A significant and positive correlation was observed between the anxiety scale of the ECR and oxytocin levels (r= 0.30, p= 0.04). On the other hand, the correlation between the avoidance scale and oxytocin levels was not significant (r= 0.12, p=0.42). The distribution of attachment styles was twenty-six (57.8%) subjects showed a secure attachment, 12 (26.7%) a preoccupied, 5 (11.1%) a fearful/avoidant and 2 (4.4%) a dismissing style. Although no statistical correlation was observed between these styles and oxytocin levels, the preoccupied style of attachment was related to higher peptide concentrations.

It could be speculated that the observed link between anxiety and oxytocin represents the biological basis of those processes resulting in positive emotions related to romantic attachment and, possibly, to all social bondings.