I Lost My Number, Can I Have Yours? Body Image Satisfaction with Sexually Dimorphic Traits is Associated with Men's Dating Anxiety and Confidence

Authors

• David A. Frederick, Chapman UniversityFollow
• Tania A. Reynolds, University of New Mexico
• Nikoline L. Smart, Chapman University
• Justin R. Garcia, Indiana University - Bloomington
• David A. Puts, Pennsylvania University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-4-2026

Abstract

Evolutionary scientists posit that sexual selection processes caused males to develop sexually dimorphic traits to aid them during intrasexual competition and increase their likelihood of being chosen as mates. Evolutionary social sciences have extensively examined women's preferences for traits such as muscle mass and voice pitch, reasoning that these traits serve as cues of men's ability to provide direct benefits (e.g., resources) and indirect (genetic) benefits passed on to offspring. At the same time, body image researchers have extensively focused on the social causes and consequences of men's dissatisfaction with their muscularity and body fat. We connected these two research traditions by examining how single men's views of their sexually dimorphic traits related to overall feelings of attractiveness and comfort with dating (e.g., dating anxiety; anxious attachment style; feeling acceptable as a sex partner). Study 1 (N = 1919) and Study 2 (N = 435) examined the experiences of single men drawn from online panels, including a U.S. demographically census-matched sample in Study 1. Zero-order correlations showed that men's feelings about most of their sexually dimorphic traits were consistently related to dating comfort outcomes. When controlling for demographic variables and other sexually dimorphic traits, men's beliefs about their muscularity and penis size, followed by body fat and facial masculinity, were most consistently related to dating comfort variables. These findings highlight the value of integrating insights from two largely disparate research traditions by identifying how single men's views of their sexually selected traits are related to body image and mating attitudes in a modern context.

Comments

This article was originally published in Evolution and Human Behavior, volume 47, issue 4, in 2026.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106876

Recommended Citation

Frederick, D. A., Reynolds, T. A., Smart, N. L., Garcia, J. R., & Puts, D. A. (2026). I lost my number, can I have yours? Body image satisfaction with sexually dimorphic traits is associated with men's dating anxiety and confidence. Evolution and Human Behavior, 47(4), 106876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106876

Copyright

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.