Singletons who want children prefer OLDER-looking partners, study says

"If you're worried about being left on the shelf, scientists have some good news for you. A new study has revealed that single people who want children actually prefer older-looking partners. The findings completely rewrite the idea that broody individuals are more drawn to youthful looks, experts said. And it means that being in your 30s or 40s might give you an edge over fresh-faced love rivals - at least if you're keen to have kids."

"For the study, published in the journal Plos One, researchers from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow recruited 149 men and 151 women with an average age of 30 and 31 respectively. Participants, who were all childless UK residents, were asked to rate 50 headshots of the opposite sex. The age of headshot subjects ranged from 19 to 55 years old. Participants were also asked to complete a questionnaire about their desire to have children."

A sample of 149 men and 151 women (average ages 30 and 31) who were childless UK residents rated 50 opposite-sex headshots aged 19–55 and completed a questionnaire about desire for children. Overall, younger faces received higher attractiveness ratings. Participants reporting a stronger desire for children displayed weaker preferences for facial cues of youth and relatively greater attraction to older-looking individuals. This pattern occurred for both men and women. Attraction to older-looking individuals did not associate with perceived wealth or parenting ability. One plausible explanation is that older appearance signals psychological stability or readiness for parenting, but causal factors remain unclear.

Read at Mail Online