Association between Dimensions of Physical Attractiveness and Risk of Rape Victimization among Adolescent Females

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study addresses the following question: “Does female physical attractiveness predict the risk of rape victimization?” Data were analyzed from a large sample of females who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Three conceptualizations of physical attractiveness were operationalized: overall attractiveness, curvaceousness, and weight. Bivariate analysis revealed that rape victimization was predicted by greater curvaceousness and weight but was unrelated to interviewer-rated attractiveness. Respondent age, Hispanic ethnicity, race, general health, physical maturation, and number of sexual partners were added to multivariate models in a stepwise fashion, but physical attractiveness and rape victimization were found to be unrelated in all models, and the positive association between weight and victimization fell to statistical non-significance when general health was added to the model. By contrast, curvaceousness consistently predicted greater victimization risk across all models. Among control variables, females who are older, less healthy, and who have more sexual partners face a higher risk of victimization. Add Health data do not present a straightforward picture of the relationship between various dimensions of physical attractiveness and rape victimization. Findings, study limitations, and theoretical implications are discussed.