Single and Multiple Indicators of Physical Attractiveness and Psychosocial Behaviors among Young Adolescents

Daniel F. Perkins, Richard M. Lerner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using a sample of 157 young adolescents (mean age = 11.79 years, SD = 045) from the Replication and Extension of the Pennsylvania Early Adolescent Transitions Study (REPEATS), the present research examined relations among several indicators of physical attractiveness (PA): facial and full-body P4 ratings, height, weight, and triceps skinfold thickness. Appraisals were made of whether multiple PA indicators accounted for more variation in measures of psychosocial functioning than did single P4 indexes. Gender variation in relations among PA indexes and psychosocial functioning was assessed also. Facial attractiveness was the most frequent statistically significant predictor of psychosocial functioning, even when compared with the simultaneous regression equations involving all the PA indexes. Results of separate analyses of males and of females were consistent with this finding and no systematic significant gender differences were found. It was concluded that past research that used facial PA adequately represented the links between PA and psychosocial functioning in early adolescence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)269-298
Number of pages30
JournalThe Journal of Early Adolescence
Volume15
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1995

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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