Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Relationship Formation02:12

Relationship Formation

40.0K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
40.0K
Longitudinal Research02:20

Longitudinal Research

11.9K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
11.9K
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences01:06

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

101
The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing,...
101
Correlation01:09

Correlation

11.7K
In statistics, two variables are said to be correlated if the values of one variable are associated with the other variable. Depending on the relationship between two variables, correlation can be of three types– positive correlation, negative correlation, and zero correlation.
Two variables, for example, a and b, are said to be positively correlated if both variables move in the same direction. In other words, a positive correlation exists between two variables, a and b, if:
11.7K
Correlations02:20

Correlations

32.8K
Correlation means that there is a relationship between two or more variables (such as ice cream consumption and crime), but this relationship does not necessarily imply cause and effect. When two variables are correlated, it simply means that as one variable changes, so does the other. We can measure correlation by calculating a statistic known as a correlation coefficient. A correlation coefficient is a number from -1 to +1 that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between...
32.8K
The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

2.1K
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
2.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and All-Cause Mortality Among US Adults: A National Prospective Cohort Study.

American journal of preventive medicine·2026
Same author

Sensory Difficulty and Assistive Device Use Among Older U.S. Immigrants: Differences by Region of Origin.

Research on aging·2026
Same author

Historical change in the health of Ghanaian middle-aged and older adults.

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences·2026
Same author

The time cost of a disability.

Journal of health economics·2025
Same author

Does the Association Between Educational Attainment and Cognition Differ Between Indigenous Language Speakers and Non-Indigenous Language Speakers in Mexico?

Journal of aging and health·2025
Same author

Disability Among Middle Aged and Older Immigrants: Differences by Citizenship, English Proficiency, and Years in United States.

Journal of aging and health·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
12:08

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence

Published on: May 22, 2013

46.5K

Looks and longevity: Do prettier people live longer?

Connor M Sheehan1, Daniel S Hamermesh2

  • 1School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, 951 Cady Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.

Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|July 3, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Facial attractiveness is linked to longevity. Individuals rated least attractive face higher mortality risks, with reduced life expectancy, even after accounting for health and socioeconomic factors.

Keywords:
AttractivenessGenderLife expectancyLongevity

More Related Videos

Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster
10:00

Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: January 7, 2013

34.3K
Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans
10:08

Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: May 18, 2022

3.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
12:08

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence

Published on: May 22, 2013

46.5K
Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster
10:00

Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: January 7, 2013

34.3K
Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans
10:08

Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: May 18, 2022

3.4K

Area of Science:

  • Sociology
  • Demography
  • Health Sciences

Background:

  • Social scientists have largely overlooked the connection between physical attractiveness and lifespan.
  • Attractiveness may serve as an indicator of underlying health and influence social stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between facial attractiveness and longevity using a large, long-term dataset.
  • To determine if attractiveness predicts mortality risk independently of other factors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) data (N=8386) with yearbook photos rated for attractiveness.
  • Employed Cox proportional hazard models and life-table techniques with mortality data through 2022.
  • Controlled for covariates including academic achievement, intelligence, family background, adult earnings, and mid-life health.

Main Results:

  • The least attractive sextile exhibited significantly higher mortality hazards (HR: 1.168) compared to the middle four sextiles.
  • This association persisted even after adjusting for numerous socioeconomic and health-related variables.
  • No significant mortality hazard differences were found between highly attractive and average-looking individuals.
  • Life-table analysis indicated reduced life expectancy for the least attractive: nearly 2 years for women and 1 year for men at age 20.

Conclusions:

  • Facial attractiveness is a significant, independent predictor of mortality risk.
  • Lower attractiveness is associated with reduced life expectancy, suggesting potential biological or social pathways.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking attractiveness to longevity.