In the survey, a group of 113 newly-wed couples were rated on their individual looks by the Southern Methodist University and Florida State University. The research found that if the male was less attractive than his wife, he was more willing to make an effort - shower her in gifts, do the chores around the house, improve his grooming habits and even work on performance in the bed.
Happy wife, happy life.
"The husbands seemed to be basically more committed, more invested in pleasing their wives when they felt that they were getting a pretty good deal," says the study.
Researchers also found that when men were rated more attractive than there partners, women felt inferior, negatively affecting their lives.
"These results reveal that having a physically attractive husband may have negative consequences for wives, especially if those wives are not particularly attractive, " says researcher, Tania Reynolds. "The research suggests there might be social factors playing a role in women's disordered eating."
Well, now you know why you're still single...