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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Adiposity, compared with masculinity, serves as a more valid cue to immunocompetence in human mate choice
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Volume 280, No. 1751, Article 20122495, Year 2013
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Description
According to the 'good genes' hypothesis, females choose males based on traits that indicate the male's genetic quality in terms of disease resistance. The 'immunocompetence handicap hypothesis' proposed that secondary sexual traits serve as indicators of male genetic quality, because they indicate that males can contend with the immunosuppressive effects of testosterone. Masculinity is commonly assumed to serve as such a secondary sexual trait. Yet, women do not consistently prefer masculine looking men, nor is masculinity consistently related to health across studies. Here, we show that adiposity, but not masculinity, significantly mediates the relationship between a direct measure of immune response (hepatitis B antibody response) and attractiveness for both body and facial measurements. In addition, we show that circulating testosterone is more closely associated with adiposity than masculinity. These findings indicate that adiposity, compared with masculinity, serves as a more important cue to immunocompetence in female mate choice. © 2012 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Rantala, Markus J.
Finland, Turku
Turun Yliopisto
Coetzee, Vinet
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Moore, Fhionna Rosemary
United Kingdom, Dundee
University of Dundee
Skrinda, Ilona
Latvia, Daugavpils
Daugavpils University
Kecko, Sanita
Latvia, Daugavpils
Daugavpils University
Krama, Tatjana
Latvia, Daugavpils
Daugavpils University
Kivleniece, Inese
Latvia, Daugavpils
Daugavpils University
Krams, I. A.
Latvia, Daugavpils
Daugavpils University
Estonia, Tartu
Ökoloogia ja Maateaduste Instituut
Statistics
Citations: 82
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1098/rspb.2012.2495
ISSN:
09628452
e-ISSN:
14712954
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Male
Female