Physical Attractiveness and Blood Pressure

Abstract

Four studies were conducted to investigate the relationship between physical attractiveness and resting blood pressure. In two samples of adolescents, there were significant sex by attractiveness interaction effects on blood pressure. Unattractive females had significantly higher mean pressures than attractive females, even when controlling for obesity. The attractiveness of males was not generally related to their blood pressures. A fourth study investigated the generalizability of the sex by attractiveness interaction effect to an older sample of adults, but no significant effects were found. Taken together, these results suggested sex and age differences in the motivational salience of physical attractiveness and help illuminate the internal arousal potential of external physical characteristics.

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