A new study from researchers at University Hospital Zurich and the University of Zurich suggests that combining physical intimacy with oxytocin may slightly improve wound healing and lower stress, but only under specific conditions.
The research highlights the important link between close romantic relationships and physical health and sheds new light on how our emotions and bodies work together.
We already know that people in loving, supportive relationships often have better health and live longer lives. Physical contact, such as hugging or cuddling, plays a big role in helping people feel calm and supported during stressful times.
This study focused on whether oxytocin—a hormone linked to bonding and affection—could enhance the benefits of physical intimacy.
The study involved 80 heterosexual couples with an average age of 27. Each person received a small blister wound on their forearm. They were then given either a nasal spray containing oxytocin or a placebo.
Some couples were asked to participate in a structured 10-minute appreciation task, where they expressed gratitude and reflected on positive aspects of their relationship. Others had a casual conversation.
Researchers tracked wound healing over seven days using a scoring system to measure redness, swelling, and other signs of healing. Participants also carried handheld devices to report how often they were physically intimate—like cuddling or having sex—and how stressed or relaxed they felt.
The results were complex. Oxytocin alone didn’t speed up healing, and neither did the appreciation exercise by itself.
However, couples who did both—used oxytocin and completed the appreciation task—showed slightly better healing. This effect was not strong, and when researchers adjusted for a few outlier results, the improvement was no longer statistically significant.
Looking at daily life, researchers found that affectionate touch and sex, when combined with oxytocin, were associated with better healing after the first day. But again, these effects were small. Physical intimacy seemed to help when it happened naturally and regularly, especially in those who had received oxytocin.
Interestingly, oxytocin didn’t make people more likely to be affectionate or intimate. People tended to be physically close when they already felt relaxed, not because of the hormone. Oxytocin also didn’t lower daily stress hormone (cortisol) levels by itself, but more frequent sexual activity was linked to lower cortisol, regardless of oxytocin.
In the end, the study shows that oxytocin isn’t a magical fix for healing or stress. Instead, it might act like a “social amplifier”—strengthening the benefits of already positive and affectionate relationships. The combination of physical closeness, emotional connection, and the body’s natural chemistry could help people recover from stress and illness.
Researchers suggest that future health programs could focus on ways to improve relationship quality and intimacy, especially during healing and recovery. While oxytocin may have a small role to play, it works best when paired with real connection and care.
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The study is published in JAMA Psychiatry.
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