Abstract Evolutionary theories suggest that humans prefer sexual dimorphism in faces because masculinity in men and femininity in women may be an indicator of immune function during development. In particular, the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis proposes that sexual dimorphism indicates good immune function during development because the sex hormones, particularly testosterone in men, required for the development of sexually dimorphic facial features also taxes the immune system. Therefore, only healthy males can afford the high level of testosterone for the development of sexually dimorphic traits without compromising their survival. Researchers have suggested that a similar mechanism via the effects of oestrogen might also explain male preferences for female femininity. Despite the prominence of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, no studies have tested whether immune function during development predicts adult facial sexual dimorphism. Here, using data from a longitudinal public health dataset, the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study (Generation 2), we show that some aspects of immune function during early adolescence (14 years) positively predict sexually dimorphic 3D face shape in both men and women. Our results support a fundamental assumption that facial sexual dimorphism is an indicator of immune function during the development of facial sexual dimorphism.

中文翻译：

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青春期早期的免疫功能可积极预测男性和女性的成人面部性别二态性

摘要 进化论认为，人类更喜欢面部的性别二态性，因为男性的男性气质和女性的女性气质可能是发育过程中免疫功能的一个指标。特别是，免疫能力障碍假说提出，性别二态性表明发育过程中免疫功能良好，因为性激素，尤其是男性的睾丸激素，是两性性面部特征发育所需的，也会对免疫系统造成负担。因此，只有健康的男性才能负担得起高水平的睾酮，以发展两性异形性状，而不会影响他们的生存。研究人员提出，通过雌激素作用的类似机制也可以解释男性对女性气质的偏好。尽管免疫能力障碍假说很突出，没有研究测试发育过程中的免疫功能是否可以预测成人面部性别二态性。在这里，使用来自纵向公共卫生数据集的数据，西澳大利亚妊娠队列（Raine）研究（第 2 代），我们表明青春期早期（14 岁）免疫功能的某些方面可以积极预测两个男性的性别二态性 3D 脸型和妇女。我们的结果支持一个基本假设，即面部性别二态性是面部性别二态性发展过程中免疫功能的指标。我们表明，青春期早期（14 岁）免疫功能的某些方面可以积极预测男性和女性的性别二态 3D 脸型。我们的结果支持一个基本假设，即面部性别二态性是面部性别二态性发展过程中免疫功能的指标。我们表明，青春期早期（14 岁）免疫功能的某些方面可以积极预测男性和女性的性别二态 3D 脸型。我们的结果支持一个基本假设，即面部性别二态性是面部性别二态性发展过程中免疫功能的指标。