BayouHealth: The Roseto Effect

Learn how to promote the stress reducing effects of oxytocin and create your own Roseto effect.

ARTICLE BY SHANNON DAHLUM

Dring the mid 1900’s, cardiovascular disease was growing exponentially and was the most common cause of death for men in their 50’s and 60’s in this country. Between 1954 and 1961, however, the small town of Roseto, Pennsylvania was an anomaly, as there were almost no heart attacks among its inhabitants. The citizens of Roseto during this time period were first generation Italian American immigrants who commonly smoked unfiltered cigarettes, drank wine with abandon, and dined on rich foods. The men were laborers and often contracted illnesses from the dust and gases they were exposed to in the slate quarries where they worked. The unusually low incidence of heart disease in this community, paired with the seemingly unhealthy lifestyle led there, was quite perplexing.

This community caught the attention of Dr. Stewart Wolf, who was the head of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma at the time. He went on to research why the citizens there seemed to be practically resistant to cardiovascular disease, and in 1963 he published his study. What he finally discovered was that their genetics, physical environment, diet, or exercise had nothing to do with what was protecting them against heart disease. What Roseto had that most other towns in America didn’t have was a strong sense of community.

The people in Roseto lived very close together, gathered for meals in the evenings, and revered the elderly. The women cooked meals together, everyone ate and drank wine at a communal table, and most importantly, they enjoyed each other’s company. They weren’t in competition with one another, but rather existed to support each another. This strong sense of community was responsible for diminishing stress and heart disease, despite an otherwise stressful way of life. The decreased risk of cardiovascular disease as a result of living in a tight-knit community has been known as the “Roseto effect” ever since.

When you feel supported and connected to others, your body releases oxytocin, a feel-good hormone that’s also known as the love hormone. Mothers release oxytocin during birth and while nursing their babies, and both men and women release it during sex. This hormone helps draw you closer to your children and your partner by promoting bonding. But you also release oxytocin anytime you feel a sense of community or connection with others, and even with yourself.

It’s now known that stress is an enormous risk factor not only for developing cardiovascular disease, but for developing any of the chronic lifestyle diseases that currently plague this country. Chronic stress leads to elevated levels of cortisol, which leads to inflammation and disease. What’s so significant about oxytocin is that it works in opposition of cortisol. When oxytocin rises, cortisol diminishes. This is why maintaining a sense of connection is so vital to your health; it reduces stress.

Humans crave physical contact, and according to “The Happiness Project,” by Gretchen Rubin, holding a hug for six seconds or more will flood your body with oxytocin. Have you ever been feeling down in the dumps or stressed out and just wanted a hug? This is why! That hug releases oxytocin, which decreases cortisol and makes you feel better. If a six minute hug feels awkward to you, though, don’t worry. You can connect in smaller ways, like making eye contact and smiling at someone, and still receive the benefits. What’s really fascinating is that connecting with other people doesn’t seem to be a requirement; making connections with any living thing can increase your oxytocin. Caring for or petting an animal, forgiving yourself or giving yourself a massage, and even tending to plants can all provide a sense of connection and purpose that will increase your stress-relieving hormones.

All interactions don’t equal connection. You can interact with loved ones, with pets, with plants and with yourself without experiencing an increase in oxytocin at all. They key to true connection isn’t about the interactions themselves, but in your intent behind those interactions.

Some simple ways to boost oxytocin:
Snuggle with loved ones.
Volunteer your time or help someone in need.
Tell someone how much they mean to you.
Pay someone a compliment.
Do anything that allows you to offer to receive support.
Give yourself a foot massage or a facial.
Relax in a warm bath.

If you do something for you spouse while feeling resentful or expecting something in return, you’ll actually increase your stress. If you go out of your way to do something for them because you genuinely want to care for them and make them feel loved, then you’ll reap the benefits, too.

Instead of splurging on gifts you feel obligated to buy for Valentine’s Day, make connections that feel more meaningful to you and your loved ones. Giving gifts can certainly fall into that category, but so can giving your time, your support and your help… or six second hugs. And remember that you don’t need a significant other to be able to experience meaningful connections.

When it comes to fighting disease, we often place a lot of importance on our diet and exercise habits. Those do matter, but we often miss one of the most important pieces in the wellness puzzle, which is community. As our culture has become more technologically advanced, we’ve also grown farther apart from one another. Don’t forget to make an effort to foster daily connections that promote the stress reducing effects of oxytocin and create your own Roseto effect.