Physical Features, Physical Attractiveness, and Psychological Adjustment Among Alcohol Abuse Inpatients

Abstract

Relations between specific physical features, attractiveness, and psychological adjustment of alcoholic inpatients were examined. Measures were obtained during the first week of admission and 6 weeks later (within 2 weeks of discharge). The nine physical features assessed formed three factors: face, facial expression, and body. The face factor was more strongly related to history of substance abuse than was either of the other factors. Further, the results suggested that alcoholism-related face features may be responsible for the documented relation between ratings of overall physical attractiveness and ratings of adjustment obtained at admission to a chemical dependency program; however, positive changes in body features less specifically related to a history of substance abuse (posture and grooming) are associated with counselors' ratings of improved patient adjustment over time.