Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39236993›Full record

ArticleBrain, behavior, and immunity2025

Do inflammation and relational motivation coordinate having better sex? The interplay between C-reactive protein and relational approach motivation on sexual well-being.

Tatum A Jolink, Baldwin M Way, Ayana Younge, Sara B Algoe

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Brain, behavior, and immunity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Tatum A JolinkDepartment of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: tjolink@umich.edu.
Baldwin M WayDepartment of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Institute for Behavioral Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Ayana YoungeDarden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Sara B AlgoeDepartment of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Funding

Passive social media use, coping, and momentary stress in geospatial context: longitudinal effects on mental health and intermediate biological pathways in a sample of White and Black adolescentsR01MH135501 · NIMH · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · PI DAVID LEE, Baldwin M Way · 2023 to 2026
$2.3M
NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH135501
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Much evidence on heightened inflammation and social behavior focuses on social withdrawal. Building on recent theory (Muscatell and Inagaki, 2021), we focused instead on the socially affiliative experience of sex. We investigated the interplay between immunology and motivation on sexual well-being among 158 individuals in romantic relationships. Inflammation, indexed by C-reactive protein (CRP), and sexual well-being were measured multiple times over a month. Relational approach motivation (i.e., motivation toward rewards in relationships) was measured at study entry. Results revealed significant associations between CRP and sexual satisfaction and partnered orgasms frequency for those most motivated to approach rewards with their partner. Interaction effects were replicated with relationship-focused psychological correlates of sexual well-being (e.g., touch, shared laughter, social support), but not with individual-focused outcomes (e.g., adapting to change, goal progress). This is one of the first human studies to demonstrate the body and mind coordinate to promote satisfying sexual experiences within romantic relationships.

Indexed as

C-Reactive ProteinInflammationMotivationPersonal SatisfactionSexual BehaviorSexual PartnersAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansInterpersonal RelationsMaleOrgasmRewardYoung AdultC-Reactive ProteinC-reactive proteinInflammationInterpersonal relationshipsMotivationOrgasmsSexual satisfactionSocial behavior

Identifiers

PMID39236993
PMCPMC12582587

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.