The association between discontinuing hormonal contraceptives and wives' marital satisfaction depends on husbands' facial attractiveness.

ABSTRACT: How are hormonal contraceptives (HCs) related to marital well-being? Some work suggests HCs suppress biological processes associated with women's preferences for partner qualities reflective of genetic fitness, qualities that may be summarized by facial attractiveness. Given that realizing such interpersonal preferences positively predicts relationship satisfaction, any changes in women's preferences associated with changes in their HC use may interact with partner facial attractiveness to predict women's relationship satisfaction. We tested this possibility using two longitudinal studies of 118 newlywed couples. Trained observers objectively rated husbands' facial attractiveness in both studies. In study 1, wives reported their marital satisfaction every 6 mo for 4 y and then reported the

SUBMITTER: Russell VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4260593 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature