Abstract

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of antidepressants, help restore proper balance of serotonin in people suffering mental illness, but their usage may have social costs. Anecdotal findings suggest SSRIs often cause sexual dysfunction and less love for romantic partners. In an effort to expand on patient’s reports of SSRI-induced social side effects, the current study investigated whether SSRI use impacts relationship initiation and attraction. Results showed that SSRI users were less physically attracted to novel individuals compared to their control counterparts. SSRI users who reported both a low libido and difficulty/inability to orgasm had an exceptionally lower rate of attraction to others when compared to SSRI users without the same symptom constellation. Our findings suggest that individuals taking SSRIs may be less physically attracted to potential mates at the relationship initiation phase, and that individual on SSRIs who already endorse being sexually affected may be most vulnerable to this phenomenon.