Physical Unattractiveness and Mortality in the United States

Abstract This study investigates the role of physical attractiveness in predicting young adult mortality. Specifically, it examines whether there is a link between being rated as unattractive during adolescence and lower survival rates into young adulthood, while accounting for other health and socioeconomic factors. The research uses unique data from the United States, Add Health, and the Cox model within a robust analytical framework. The study analyzes the survival odds of individuals rated as unattractive compared to those rated as attractive. A more recent adulthood attractiveness assessment is also used to reconfirm the initial findings. The results show that individuals rated as unattractive during adolescence have lower odds of survival. This relationship remains robust after controlling for key confounders. A possible sex difference is identified, indicating that the impact of being unattractive on reduced survival chances is visible among females but not males. These results align with prior research linking beauty, socioeconomic success, and health. This study opens new avenues for future research to explore these sex-specific effects and the use of more granular measures of attractiveness.