Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
Volume/Issue:
Volume 8: Issue 3
Women's voice pitch is negatively correlated with health risk factors
Authors:
Jovana Vukovic School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

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David R. Feinberg Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

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Lisa DeBruine School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

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Finlay G. Smith School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

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Benedict C. Jones School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

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Pages:
217–225
Online Publication Date:
01 Sep 2010
Publication Date:
01 Sep 2010
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/jep.8.2010.3.2
Keywords:
voice pitch; attractiveness; mate choice; fundamental frequency; femininity
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Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that men prefer women's voices with relatively high pitch to those with low pitch, suggesting that men may use voice pitch as a cue of women's mate quality. However, evidence that voice pitch is a cue to women's long-term health is equivocal. Here we present evidence that women's average speaking voice pitch is negatively correlated with a health risk index derived from principle component analysis of various body measurements that are known to predict long-term health outcomes in women (weight, body mass index, percentage body fat, waist and hip circumference, and waist-hip ratio). Our results suggest that voice pitch is a cue to women's long-term health, supporting mate-choice accounts of men's preferences for raised pitch in women's voices.

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Cover Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
Print ISSN:
1789-2082
Online ISSN:
2060-5587

Journal of Evolutionary Psychology 
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 2007 (2003)
Publication
Programme		 changed title
Volumes
per Year		  
Issues
per Year		  
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1789-2082 (Print)
ISSN 2060-5587 (Online)

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