SynthesisJournal of sex research2021
Emotional Outcomes of Casual Sexual Relationships and Experiences: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in Journal of sex research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed.
- Prolactin levels and female sexual distress: associations with sexual knowledge and behaviors.Sexual medicine · 2026Article
- The Gender Gap in One-Night Stand Regret: Evidence from Heterosexual and Same-Sex Encounters.Archives of sexual behavior · 2026Article
- Prevalence of, and Gender Differences in College Students' Experiences of Alcohol-Related Regretted Sex: a Scoping Review.Current addiction reports · 2026Review
- Perceiving being single as inherently negative: when participant ratings of another person's life satisfaction rely solely on that person's relationship status.BMC psychology · 2025Article
- Cultural Validation of the Fear-of-Intimacy Scale for the Portuguese Population: Exploring Its Relationship with Sociosexual Orientation.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- "It Is A Purposefully Ambiguous Term": Examining Emerging Adults' Definitions of Hooking Up and How They Vary by Sex/Gender and Educational Background.Archives of sexual behavior · 2024Article
- Navigating Love in a Post-Pandemic World: Understanding Young Adults' Views on Short- and Long-Term Romantic Relationships.Archives of sexual behavior · 2024Article
- Sex, Gender and Class: An Analysis of Chilean Young People's Intimate Life.International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health · 2024Article
- Commitment and Extra-Dyadic Sexual Activity in College Students' Friends with Benefits Relationships: Moderating Effects of Gender.Journal of sex research · 2023Review
- Sexual Behaviors, Satisfaction, and Intentions to Engage in Casual Sexual Relationships and Experiences in Emerging Adulthood.Archives of sexual behavior · 2023Article
- Psychological and Psychosexual Adjustment in University Students as a Function of Sexual Activity and Relationship Type.International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health · 2023Article
- Positive, Negative, or Mixed Feelings? A Person-Centered Approach to Consequences of First Penile-Vaginal Intercourse in College Students.Archives of sexual behavior · 2022Article
- Was it Good for You? Gender Differences in Motives and Emotional Outcomes Following Casual Sex.Sexuality & culture · 2022Article
- A Fertile Ground for Ambiguities: Casual Sexual Relationships Among Portuguese Emerging Adults.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Article
- Partner intimate touch is associated with increased interpersonal closeness, especially in non-romantic partners.PloS one · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Casual sexual relationships and experiences (CSREs) are common and emotionally significant occurrences. Given the uncommitted, often emotionally complicated nature of CSREs, researchers have asked whether these experiences may have positive and/or negative emotional consequences. We reviewed 71 quantitative articles examining emotional outcomes of CSREs, including subjective emotional reactions (e.g., excitement, regret) and emotional health (e.g., depression, self-esteem). Overall, people evaluated their CSREs more positively than negatively. In contrast, CSREs were associated with short-term declines in emotional health in most studies examining changes in emotional health within a year of CSRE involvement. Emotional outcomes of CSREs differed across people and situations. Women and individuals with less permissive attitudes toward CSREs experienced worse emotional outcomes of CSREs. Alcohol use prior to CSREs, not being sexually satisfied, and not knowing a partner well were also associated with worse emotional outcomes. These findings suggest directions for prevention/intervention related to CSREs. For example, skill-building related to sexual decision-making may help individuals decide whether, and under what circumstances, CSREs are likely to result in positive or negative emotional outcomes. In addition, the limitations of extant research suggest directions for future inquiry (e.g., examining whether verbal and nonverbal consent practices predict emotional outcomes of CSREs).
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.