Men with rugged(1) jaws and chiseled(2), masculine(3) facial features might have no problem getting dates but women don't always see them as marriage material, according to a U.S. study.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health, found women may judge potential mates by how masculine their facial features are before getting to know them.

Researchers tested about 850 male and female undergraduates usually digitally altered pictures of male faces and found women viewed men with "masculine features" like prominent brow ridges and large jaws, as good short-term partners -- but saw them as more likely to cheat on a spouse(4) and get into fights.

Men with more "feminine features," such as rounder faces and fuller lips, were viewed as better long-term partners by female participants who would likely make better parents and husbands.

"Women's preferences depend on what type of partner she is looking for," said the study's author Daniel Kruger in a statement.

"She will prefer a highly masculine face for a short-term relationship where the potential genetic investment would be most important, and a more feminine face for a long-term relationship, where a stable, supportive relationship and ability and willingness to care for children would be more important."

Kruger said male participants in the study, which was published recently in the journal "Personal Relationships," drew similar conclusions based on men's facial features.

When they were asked to choose a person to accompany their girlfriend on a weekend trip or as a potential son-in-law, they opted for(5) men with more feminine features.

Kruger said according to this and other studies, the hormone testosterone(6) may play a role in explaining facial preferences although further study was needed.

Testosterone promotes the development of male facial and sexual features, including prominent brow lines and larger jaws, which may be characteristics women want to pass on to their children.

But at the same time, increased testosterone has been linked to violent behaviour and spousal cheating so as a result, women may want longer-term relationships with less-masculine looking men.

美国一项调查显示，下巴粗犷、面部轮廓分明、具有男子气概的男人也许不愁没有约会，但是结婚就不好说了。

密歇根大学公共健康学院的研究人员发现，女人在了解一个男人之前会通过他的长相是否粗犷来判断他是否适合婚姻。

研究人员对850名男女大学生进行研究，给他们看很多不同的男性面部照片，女人们通常认为那些长相具有“男子气概特征”—诸如高眉骨、宽下巴—的男人非常适合作短期情人，可却会欺骗配偶，引发争吵。

女人还认为长相具有“女性特点”，例如圆脸盘、丰满嘴唇的男人更适合作终生伴侣，认为他们会成为好父亲、好丈夫。

本研究作者Daniel Kruger在声明中说：“女性的偏好取决于她对伴侣的需求。”

“当她需要一个短期情人时，潜在基因投资是最重要的事情，她会选择一张颇具男子汉气概的脸；当她需要一个长期关系时，稳定、相互扶持的关系和抚养孩子的能力、愿望便是最重要的因素，她会选择一张更富女性气质的脸。”

Kruger说最近一期《私人关系》对男性的调查也得到类似的结论。

问及会找怎样的人来陪他们的女朋友周末旅行或者作准女婿时，他们都偏爱更具女性特点的男性。

Kruger说根据此项以及其他研究，荷尔蒙睾丸激素可能对面部特征产生一定影响，但仍需要更深研究证实。

睾丸激素有利于男性面部和性特征的发展，包括高眉骨、宽下巴，这也是女人希望能够遗传给孩子们的。

但同时，荷尔蒙也与暴力行为和婚姻背叛有关，所以女人们更愿意找一个不太具男子气概的男人结婚。