Women's voice pitch is negatively correlated with health risk factors

Vukovic, J., Feinberg, D.R., Debruine, L.M. , Smith, F.G. and Jones, B.C. (2010) Women's voice pitch is negatively correlated with health risk factors. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, 8(3), pp. 217-225. (doi: 10.1556/JEP.8.2010.3.2)

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.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: DeBruine, Professor Lisa and Jones, Professor Benedict
• Authors: Vukovic, J., Feinberg, D.R., Debruine, L.M., Smith, F.G., and Jones, B.C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
• Publisher: Akadémiai Kiadó
• ISSN: 1789-2082