A direct test indicated a partner's physical attractiveness played a larger role in predicting husbands' satisfaction than wives', U.S. researchers say.
Andrea L. Meltzer of Southern Methodist University in Dallas and colleagues analyzed the data of four independent, longitudinal studies to examine sex differences in the implications of partner physical attractiveness and marital satisfaction.
In all four studies, both partners' physical attractiveness was objectively rated at baseline, and both partners reported their marital satisfaction up to eight times over the first four years of marriage.
The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found husbands were more satisfied at the beginning of the marriage and remained more satisfied over the next four years to the extent that they had an attractive wife, while wives were no more or less satisfied initially or over the next four years to the extent that they had an attractive husband.
A test indicated partner physical attractiveness played a larger role in predicting husbands' satisfaction than predicting wives' satisfaction, Meltzer said.
