Why singles who want kids tend to find older people more attractive

By Stephen Beech

Singles who want children tend to find older people more attractive - but not for their money, according to a new study.

Researchers found that heterosexual adults keen to become moms or dads are more attracted to older people, although financial factors and perceived parenting ability didn't influence the preference.

Participants in the study who self-reported a stronger desire to have children showed a weaker preference for younger faces compared to those with a weaker desire to have children.

Jingheng Li and his colleagues from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow , found the preference was unrelated to the potential partners’ perceived wealth or parental prowess.

Researchers have often examined the foundations of attractiveness — the intangible “it” factor t