JERUSALEM, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A new method measuring oxytocin in hair can predict the strength of the bond between mothers and their children, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel said in a statement on Wednesday.
Published in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology, the research analyzed hair samples from 28 mothers and their children (average age 4.5), providing a stable, three-month hormonal profile. Unlike momentary saliva tests, this method captures long-term oxytocin levels.
The study found that higher oxytocin in a mother's hair strongly predicted more emotionally available, sensitive, and supportive interactions during observed 20-minute play sessions. This effect was most pronounced when the child's own oxytocin levels were low or medium.
Oxytocin is a hormone central to social attachment and parental care.
The findings establish hair oxytocin as a new biological marker for understanding the foundation of strong, nurturing family relationships and child development. ■
