Are Men With Beards More Stable As Romantic Partners? This Study Suggest So

The next time you are on a date, consider spending time with a man who has facial hair.

There are many factors at play when it comes to choosing a romantic partner. Some people settle for looks, others may think that having a good personality is a non-negotiable trait. Whatever may be the criteria, at the end of the day everyone looks for a healthy relationship with a supportive and respectful partner. A new study seems to suggest that having hair on the face could factor in greatly when it comes to the success rate of a relationship. Interestingly, according to the study, bearded men may be more 'stable' romantic partners than men who do not sport a beard. So, the next time you are on a date, consider spending time with a man who has facial hair.

The Findings Of The Study

Citing the study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, a People report mentioned that men who have beards are not necessarily looking for new partners. They are happy with the partners they have. But, on the other hand, clean-shaven men are more 'mate-seeking' in their approach.

Quoting the findings of the study, the report further mentioned that men having 'more facial hair reported less mate-seeking motivation'; they also sought more 'mate-retention' and 'kin care motivation'. The study reportedly involved as many as 414 men between the ages of 18 years and 40 years. It assessed their 'facial hair enhancement motivations'.

The co-author of the study, professor Peter Jonason from Warsaw's University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski was quoted as saying, according to The Times UK: "Bearded men are in it for keeps. They are less likely to have a fast life history strategy [seeking numerous partners] and instead, tend to invest in others both romantically and familially."

What Is The Connection With Beards?

The reason that has been floated -- to make a connection between bearded men and their approach to relationships -- is that it takes a great amount of effort to maintain and groom a beard. "Beards, as opposed to say stubble, [are] difficult and time-consuming to grow. Men with full beards may signal their disciplined nature," Jonason was quoted as saying.

The study also mentioned that maintaining a clean-shaven face 'requires the effort of frequent facial hair removal'. Additionally, more facial hair requires 'more effort to keep it clean'. In order to regularly care for facial hair, one needs to invest 'time, effort, and resources'. Thus, 'facial hair enhancement motivation' may be related to the 'desire to present oneself to other people as a resourceful and well-organised person'.

According to the study, having 'more facial hair' is an indication by a man that his 'social motives shift from focusing on [the] mating market to focusing on long-term romantic relationships and family'.