Are you too attractive to wear a mask? Study shows vanity impacts covering your face
A factor for many when deciding whether or not to continue masking in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 is whether or not you think you’re attractive, a recent study found.
The study — published in January in the journal “Frontiers of Psychology” — delved into “the role of self-perceived facial attractiveness in predicting mask-wearing intention.”
Its results, the researchers say, “demonstrated that individuals with high (vs. low) self-perceived attractiveness were less willing to wear a mask, due to a weaker endorsement of the belief that mask-wearing enhances their perceived attractiveness.”
“Our findings suggest that mask-wearing can shift from being a self-protection measure during the COVID-19 pandemic to a self-presentation tactic in the post-pandemic era,” the study’s authors wrote.
Additionally, the study found, what’s on the agenda for your day also impacts your decision about masking.
People’s association between their attractiveness and their mask use “was stronger in situations where the need to deliver a favorable impression was high,” such as a job interview, compared to in situations involving menial tasks, such as taking a pet for a walk.
What do you think?
Does your self-image play a role in your decision on whether or not to wear a mask? Vote in our poll below (poll closes at 11:59 p.m. Thursday):
This story was originally published March 1, 2023 at 12:46 PM.
