Ethnicity is associated with alterations in oxytocin relationships to pain sensitivity in women

Abstract

These data suggest that reduced oxytocinergic function may be one of multiple biological factors contributing to the greater sensitivity to experimental ischemic pain, and to the greater burden of some types of clinical pain experienced by African Americans compared with Whites.

Positive Emotions Broaden and Build

“…Previously, oxytocin could only be assessed reliably in humans from plasma or cerebral spinal fluid. Recent breakthroughs have led to new methods to assay oxytocin noninvasively, through enzyme immunoassay of urine samples, a procedure pioneered by Grewen and Light (Grewen, Girdler, Amico, & Light, 2005;Grewen, Light, Mechlin, & Girdler, 2008;Light et al, 2004). Our approach of collecting 24-h urine samples as people behave normally in their home environments allows us to infer characteristic and presumably stable levels of oxytocin.…”

Parental attitudes regarding analgesic use for children: differences in ethnicity and language

“…Although this work helps to identify a specific target of intervention-parental beliefs-few researchers have examined those factors that may predict which parents are at risk for endorsing these misconceptions. Given the large body of research supporting potential ethnic and racial differences in the perception and experience of pain in adults [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26], it is clear that cultural variables are an important avenue of exploration. That the Hispanic population is now the largest minority group in the United States [24][25][26][27] suggests that an examination of parental misconceptions about analgesic use for children is vital in both white and Hispanic parents.…”

Failed Lactation and Perinatal Depression: Common Problems with Shared Neuroendocrine Mechanisms?

“…Indeed, low oxytocin levels are associated with diminished pain thresholds. 70 Prior studies have linked depressive symptoms with childbirth-associated pain and catastrophization, 71 which describes a cognitive and emotional response that assumes adverse circumstances can and will get progressively worse. These tendencies are associated with both depression and chronic pain and may be mediated, in part, by catastrophizing-associated differences in central nociception pathways.…”