The Role of Emotions in Predicting Sperm and Egg Donation

Across two studies, we assessed the role of social-cognitive and emotional factors in promoting and deterring sperm and egg donation. Study 1 (N = 138 men) found that feeling anxiety towards discovering a fertility problem and pride positively predicted sperm donation intention and information seeking behaviour. By contrast, feeling anxiety towards the process of donation negatively predicted sperm donation intention and information seeking behaviour. Study 2 (N = 193 women) found that pride positively and the anxiety towards the process negatively predicted egg donation intentions, but not information seeking behaviour. These results suggest that it is important to consider the role of emotions in motivating and deterring people from becoming a sperm and egg donor