'Ugly People Have Shorter Lifespans?' ... US Study Reveals 'Correlation'

Research Based on High School Graduation Photos
Wider Lifespan Gap Among Women... "Imbalance Reflects Social Pressure"
Being Pretty Doesn't Mean Living Longer

A study has revealed that 'appearance' can influence a person's lifespan, drawing significant attention.

The August issue of the international academic journal Social Science & Medicine published a research paper titled "Appearance and Longevity: Do Attractive People Live Longer?" This study investigated the correlation between appearance perceived as attractive by the opposite sex and lifespan. It was jointly conducted by Connor M. Seehan, an associate professor at Arizona State University, and Daniel Hammermesh, a labor economist at the University of Texas at Austin.

High school graduation photo. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

The research team conducted the investigation by analyzing extensive data over the past eight months. Using the "Wisconsin Longitudinal Study," a lifelong survey tracking high school graduates from Wisconsin in 1957, a sample of 8,386 men and women who could be followed up until 2022 was used. Additionally, 10 judges born around the same time were selected to evaluate the attractiveness of the participants based on their graduation photos.

Through this evaluation method, the research team examined the sample identified as "unattractive people" and found a "concerning correlation" between attractiveness and lifespan. In other words, the less attractive a person was, the shorter their lifespan tended to be. This conclusion remained significant even after controlling for other variables that could affect lifespan, such as income, education, marital status, and body mass index.

Specifically, when attractiveness was divided into six grades from 1 to 6, those in the lowest 6th grade had a mortality rate 16.8% higher than those in grades 1 to 4.

In the case of women, the correlation was more pronounced than in men. Women classified in the 6th attractiveness grade died on average about two years earlier than other women. This contrasted with men, whose difference was only about one year.

However, having a more attractive appearance did not necessarily mean living significantly longer. There was no meaningful difference in lifespan between those rated as the most attractive in their graduation photos and those rated at a medium level.

Regarding this, Professor Seehan stated, "It seems to reflect the disproportionate social pressure and judgment women have to endure regarding appearance," but added, "Although attractive people receive many benefits in income, grades, and marriage, this does not seem to apply to lifespan."

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