Talking about your problems with a friend doesn’t only help you to fix the problem; it does wonders for your emotional health. This is according to a new Canadian study, from researchers at Concordia University, which found that sharing your problems in times of stress really can help improve mood because if produces the “feel-good” hormone oxytocin.
According to researcher Mark Ellenbogen, when you reach out to others for support after a stressful event, oxytocin may promote the “tend to befriend” response. ‘That means that instead of the traditional “fight or flight” response to social conflict where people get revved up to respond to a challenge or run away from it, oxytocin may promote the “tend and befriend” response where people reach out to others for support after a stressful event,’ he said. ‘That can, in turn, strengthen social bonds and may be a healthier way to cope.’
For the study, the researchers gave 100 students a dose of either oxytocin or a placebo via nasal spray. Then, in a conversation that was staged to simulate real life, the researchers acted as students and disagreed with, interrupted and ignored the unsuspecting participants, so that they would feel social rejection. After this, the participants filled out questionnaires on their mood and personality. The results of the study revealed that those whose emotional wellbeing was particularly affected by the rejection reported greater trust in other people if they were given oxytocin before the conversation, but not if they were given the placebo. Yet, oxytocin had no noticeable effect on trust in those whose wellness wasn’t impacted by the rejection.
In a news release, co-researcher Christopher Cardoso commented, ‘If someone is feeling very distressed, oxytocin could promote social support seeking, and that may be especially helpful to those individuals.’ He added, ‘Previous studies have shown that natural oxytocin is higher in distressed people, but before this study nobody could say with certainty why that was the case. In distressed people, oxytocin may improve one’s motivation to reach out to others for support. That idea is cause for a certain degree of excitement, both in the research community and for those who suffer from mood disorders.’