The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial Attractiveness
Abstract BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic necessitated masking in public spaces. Masks may impact the perceived attractiveness of individuals and hence, interpersonal relations. ObjectivesTo determine if facial coverings affect attractiveness....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford University Press
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum |
| Online Access: | https://academic.oup.com/asjopenforum/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/asjof/ojac070 |
| _version_ | 1797955576508973056 |
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| author | Brian Bassiri-Tehrani Alvin Nguyen Akriti Choudhary Jiddu Guart Bianca Di Chiaro Chad A Purnell |
| author_facet | Brian Bassiri-Tehrani Alvin Nguyen Akriti Choudhary Jiddu Guart Bianca Di Chiaro Chad A Purnell |
| author_sort | Brian Bassiri-Tehrani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic necessitated masking in public spaces. Masks may impact the perceived attractiveness of individuals and hence, interpersonal relations.
ObjectivesTo determine if facial coverings affect attractiveness.
MethodsAn online survey was conducted using 114 headshot images, 2 each—unmasked and masked—of 57 individuals. Two hundred and seven participants rated them on an ordinal scale from 1 (least attractive) to 10 (most attractive). Parametric and nonparametric tests were performed, as appropriate, for comparison.
ResultsFor the first quartile, the average rating increased significantly when wearing a mask (5.89 ± 0.29 and 6.54 ± 0.67; PPPPPPP
ConclusionsWhile wearing a facial covering significantly increased attractiveness for images less attractive at baseline, and decreased attractiveness for those that are more attractive at baseline; it did not cause a significant overall change in attractiveness in the study population.
Level of Evidence: 5
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:36:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b9c48c57dfd9454c8c5a33bc8ccdc64d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2631-4797 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:36:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9c48c57dfd9454c8c5a33bc8ccdc64d2023-01-11T17:26:47ZengOxford University PressAesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum2631-47972022-09-01410.1093/asjof/ojac070The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial AttractivenessBrian Bassiri-Tehrani0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4891-4920Alvin Nguyen1Akriti Choudhary2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5680-7327Jiddu Guart3Bianca Di Chiaro4Chad A Purnell5Aesthetic plastic surgery fellow, The Center for Plastic Surgery at MetroDerm/Emory Aesthetic Center, Atlanta, GA, USAMedical studentResearch fellowPostgraduate year 2 resident, Division of General Surgery, Brown University, Providence, RI, USAPostgraduate year 3 resident, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USAAssistant professor, Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgery University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA Abstract BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic necessitated masking in public spaces. Masks may impact the perceived attractiveness of individuals and hence, interpersonal relations. ObjectivesTo determine if facial coverings affect attractiveness. MethodsAn online survey was conducted using 114 headshot images, 2 each—unmasked and masked—of 57 individuals. Two hundred and seven participants rated them on an ordinal scale from 1 (least attractive) to 10 (most attractive). Parametric and nonparametric tests were performed, as appropriate, for comparison. ResultsFor the first quartile, the average rating increased significantly when wearing a mask (5.89 ± 0.29 and 6.54 ± 0.67; PPPPPPP ConclusionsWhile wearing a facial covering significantly increased attractiveness for images less attractive at baseline, and decreased attractiveness for those that are more attractive at baseline; it did not cause a significant overall change in attractiveness in the study population. Level of Evidence: 5 https://academic.oup.com/asjopenforum/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/asjof/ojac070 |
| spellingShingle | Brian Bassiri-Tehrani Alvin Nguyen Akriti Choudhary Jiddu Guart Bianca Di Chiaro Chad A Purnell The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial Attractiveness Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum |
| title | The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial Attractiveness |
| title_full | The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial Attractiveness |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial Attractiveness |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial Attractiveness |
| title_short | The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial Attractiveness |
| title_sort | effect of wearing a mask on facial attractiveness |
| url | https://academic.oup.com/asjopenforum/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/asjof/ojac070 |
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