Objective and subjective attractiveness and early adolescent adjustment

Using data from the Pennsylvania Early Adolescent Transitions Study (PEATS), this study assessed how objective physical attractiveness (PA), indexed by appraisals from others, and subjective PA, indexed by self-appraisals, relate to each other and, in turn, to early adolescent adjustment (indexed by self-esteem and anxiety). Findings indicated a low relationship between objective and subjective PA. Only subjective PA was associated with adjustment.