OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)· 2026· Preprint
Longing and Belonging: Yearning for a loved one and salivary oxytocin levels
- 0citations
- 2026year
Short summary
Yearning for a loved one during social isolation was associated with increased salivary oxytocin levels, particularly when the yearning was negatively appraised.
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Key points
- Yearning for a loved one during social isolation was linked to higher anxiety, apathy, and lower happiness.
- Yearning intensity predicted a steeper daily increase in salivary oxytocin levels.
- Negatively appraised yearning was associated with higher average oxytocin levels.
- Attachment style moderated the relationship between yearning, emotional states, and cortisol.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Background: Yearning for a loved one is a key element of grief and may contribute to prolonged grief reactions. However, its role during periods of temporary separation and the underlying neuroendocrine mechanisms have received limited empirical attention. Aim: This study examined associations between yearning and momentary emotional states (aim 1), oxytocin (OT) and cortisol (aim 2), and the moderating role of attachment style (aim 3) during periods of extreme social isolation. Method: A total of 253 participants (Mage=43, SDage=13.18; 70.4% female) took part in an ecological momentary assessment study during COVID-19 lockdown (April-July 2021). Participants provided saliva samples six times daily over two consecutive days and completed concurrent assessments of behavior and emotions. Yearning frequency, intensity and valence were assessed each evening. Hierarchical linear models were used to analyze hypothesized associations. Results: On days with yearning, participants reported higher anxiety, apathy and lower happiness compared to non-yearning days. Negative yearning appraisals were further linked to greater exhaustion and apathy and lower happiness. Yearning was not significantly associated with cortisol levels. However, greater yearning intensity predicted a steeper daily increase in OT levels. Negatively appraised yearning was linked to higher average OT, whereas positively appraised yearning predicted a steeper OT increase. Attachment style moderated associations between yearning and emotional states as well as cortisol levels. Discussion: Findings suggest a linkage between yearning and emotional burden as well as elevated peripheral salivary oxytocin levels during social isolation. This large-scale study provides ecologically valid evidence about the involvement of OT in yearning. Future longitudinal research is needed to clarify causal relationships.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints), 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Social Psychology
Social PsychologyPsychology