Self-Perception for Vocal Attractiveness and Its Acoustic Correlates Among Non-Dysphonic Adults in Shanghai

This study aimed to identify the acoustic correlates of self-perceived vocal attractiveness and its constituent dimensions among non-dysphonic adults in Shanghai, and to examine potential sexually dimorphic patterns in these relationships.

Forty-two healthy adults (19 males, 23 females) aged 18-45 years, all native Shanghai residents, were recruited. Participants performed vowel phonation and a connected speech reading task to extract morphological parameters (vocal tract length, formant dispersion) and dynamic parameters (F0, F0 standard deviation, harmonics-to-noise ratio, Alpha Ratio, Hammarberg Index, and articulation rate). Self-perception was assessed across five dimensions (overall attractiveness, dominance, warmth, sexiness, and youthfulness) using a 9-point Likert scale.

Despite pronounced sexual dimorphism in acoustic production, no significant gender differences were found in self-perception ratings. Unadjusted multiple comparisons results indicated that female self-perceived overall attractiveness was negatively correlated with Alpha Ratio (r = -0.484, P = 0.023), and male self-perceived warmth was associated with the Hammarberg Index (r = -0.586, P = 0.008). After applying the Benjamini-Hochberg False Discovery Rate correction, no correlations between subjective evaluations and acoustic parameters remained statistically significant (P_adj > 0.05).

Within the limitations of the sample size, these preliminary findings suggest that vocal self-perception is scaffolded by identity processes rather than a direct reflection of acoustic properties. The lack of robust associations after statistical correction suggests that self-evaluation frameworks are highly individualized.