Oxytocin is an important determinant of psychosocial behavior: a study conducted in three secondary schools in rural Bangladesh

Background and objectives: Increasing psychosocial dysfunction (PD) is a major mental health issue globally. Deviation from normal mental health in early childhood leads to severe sequelae in adulthood, jeopardizing not only the individual affected but also his family, community and the entire society as a whole. Social crimes indicate mental health disorders of society. Early detection and intervention of behavioral disorders are expected to prevent such an increasing trend. The study aims to measure the prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction in secondary school- going children and to determine its biological risk variables. Materials and methods: Three secondary high schools in rural communities were purposively selected. Students aged 11 – 18 years from classes six to ten were selected randomly. Having purposively selected 3 schools, the student participants were randomly selected based on class roll numbers 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65 - --- 95; ten from each class for the girls (10 X 5 = 50). Likewise, for the boys, 20 from each class according to Class Roll No: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 ---- 100. PSC35 was used for scoring psychosocial behavior. The class teachers filled out the questionnaire in consultation with parents or caretakers. Investigations included: a) anthropometry (height, weight, waist- and hip-girth), blood pressure; b) biochemistry profile (blood glucose, dopamine, serotonin, cortisol and oxytocin). PSC35 ≥23 was taken as the cut-off for PD. Results: A total of 250 students (boys / girls = 165/85) participated. The prevalence of PD was found to be 36.4% (boys / girls = 25.6 / 10.8%; p=0.332). Compared with the girls, the boys had significantly higher central obesity (WHR, p=0.018; WHtR, p<0.001) than girls, whereas the girls had higher FBG (p<0.001), cortisol (p = 0.009) and OT (p<0.001). Comparisons between those with PD (PSC35 ≥23) and without PD (PSC35<23) showed that PD group had significantly lower OT (p=0.015). Pearson’s correlation estimated that OT had negative correlations (r = - 0.159, p = 0.016) with PSC35. Multiple comparisons of risk variables based on PSC35-tertiles by ANOVA (Scheffe) showed the higher tertile had significantly lower OT (p = 0.008). Logistic regression (binary) also proved lower OT was significantly associated with PD. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study revealed a higher prevalence of PD among the school students. It investigated major biological risk variables (obesity, blood pressure, blood glucose and neurotransmitters), and whether these variables contribute to PD. Of the investigated variables, lower OT level was found to be significantly associated with PD and proved to be an important risk. Further study may be initiated to confirm our study findings. Acronyms – BMI – body mass index (weight in kg/height in met sq.), DBP – diastolic blood pressure, FBG – fasting blood glucose, MAP –mean arterial pressure [(MAP = DBP + 1/3 (SBP – DBP)], SD- standard deviation, WHR – waist-to-hip ratio, WHtR- waist-to-height ratio, SBP – systolic blood pressure; PSC35 – pediatric symptom checklist 35. PD- Psychological dysfunction: [ADHD – attention deficiency hyperactive disorders, CD – conduct disorders, ODD – oppositional defiant disorders]. July 2025; Vol. 19(2):002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.19.011 *Correspondence: M Abu Sayeed, Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Ibrahim Medical College, 1/A, Ibrahim Sarani, Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected] © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0).