A study says higher inflammation is linked to preferring digital chats: Why some people may choose messages over meeting up

Higher inflammation was linked to more social-media interaction relative to face-to-face contact. The association was stronger among people higher in introversion or neuroticism. The study did not prove that inflammation caused the preference.

Imagine your friends inviting you for coffee. Usually, you would say yes. Today, you feel run-down. Even getting ready seems like work. You decline the invitation. Minutes later, you send a friend a short message asking how their day went. You wanted contact. Going out felt harder.

The imagined scene introduces a question explored by University at Buffalo researchers: could the body help explain how people choose to connect?

What did the University at Buffalo study measure?

Researchers measured inflammation and examined how participants socialized online and face-to-face.

David S. Lee, an associate professor of communication, and colleagues studied 154 participants. They extensively researched many parameters and published their results in 2026 in Scientific reports. Participants has to go throught certain process to enable the resarchers find exactly what theyr were looking for. They gave blood samples and completed questionnaires on personality and social interaction. Researchers also collected a week of phone screen-time information.

The blood samples measured C-reactive protein, or CRP, a marker of inflammation. The study examined naturally occurring inflammation. It did not simply ask whether people felt unwell.

How might inflammation influence someone’s behavior?

Immune signaling can affect the brain and contribute to changes in energy and motivation. Psychobiologist Robert Dantzer and colleagues have described sickness behavior. It includes tiredness and reduced interest in ordinary activities during illness.

Inflammation belongs to the body’s immune response. It helps the body respond to infection or injury. Signals involved in that response can also influence behavior.

Dantzer’s work describes a shift in priorities. Activities that usually seem rewarding may become less appealing while the body responds to illness.

Imagine having a cold when someone suggests an afternoon out. You may like the plan but feel unable to manage the effort.

The example illustrates sickness behavior. It does not establish what the Buffalo participants experienced. Higher inflammation can also occur without obvious symptoms.

Why might digital socializing feel less demanding?

Digital conversations can offer more control over when and how someone responds. Return to the coffee invitation. Getting there requires a journey. Once seated, you need to follow the conversation as it happens.

A message can be written from home. You can pause before replying. If you struggle to find the words, you can rewrite them.


Lee suggests that social media may appeal to some people because it demands less from them than meeting in person.The possibility offers one explanation for the findings. The study didn’t find that messaging is always less effortful or boosts well-being.

What do introversion and neuroticism mean in this context?

Introversion concerns being less outgoing. Neuroticism concerns a greater tendency toward negative emotions, including worry. Both sit within the Big Five personality framework.

Psychologists Oliver John and Christopher Soto’s work on personality measurement describes traits as dimensions. Someone can be more reserved than a friend without belonging to a completely separate personality category.

Introversion also does not mean having no interest in friendship. Neuroticism is a personality trait, rather than a diagnosis. A reserved person might prefer a quieter exchange to a busy gathering. Someone prone to worry might appreciate time to consider a reply.

Those examples illustrate possible preferences. They do not explain every participant’s choices. The study’s association was stronger among people higher in either trait.

Can someone avoid an outing but still want connection?

Yes. Choosing a different form of contact does not necessarily mean losing interest in relationships. Psychologists Roy Baumeister and Mark Leary’s belongingness hypothesis proposes that forming and maintaining meaningful relationships is a fundamental human motivation.It offers a way to understand the coffee scene.

You might stay home but still ask about a friend’s exam. Their answer matters to you. Even when the outing feels hard, there is the desire for connection. The theory does not state that digital contact is as good as face-to-face meetings.

Does the study prove inflammation changes social preferences?

None. The results show an association, not a cause and effect relationship.” The college-student sample also limits generalizations.

The theories provide possible context. They cannot establish why each person chose digital interaction. For the friend receiving your message, declining coffee need not mean declining the friendship.

FAQs

Can preferring messages reveal high inflammation?

No. A communication preference cannot establish someone’s CRP level.

Digital socializing, is that the same as scrolling?

Nope. Scrolling through a feed is not the same as engaging with someone. Researchers also looked at social interaction, as well as overall social-media use.