BODY-SIZE, PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS, AND BODY-IMAGE AMONG YOUNG-ADULT WOMEN - RELATIONSHIPS TO SEXUAL EXPERIENCE AND SEXUAL ESTEEM

Although links between women's sexuality and body size, attractiveness , and body image may seem apparent, little empirical work has been con ducted on this topic. In the current study, young adult women (N = 192 ) completed questionnaires and were weighed and rated for facial attra ctiveness. In general, current body size, experimenter-rated facial at tractiveness, and self-rated facial and bodily attractiveness were rel ated in some ways to current relationship status and sexual experience . General body dissatisfaction, avoidance of social settings due to ap pearance concerns, and degree of investment in one's physical appearan ce were unrelated to relationship status and sexual experience. Higher sexual esteem was related to subjective views of attractiveness, but not to actual body size or experimenter ratings of facial attractivene ss.