Yes, research suggests that more attractive parents are more likely to have daughters. Multiple studies indicate a statistically significant correlation between parental attractiveness and having a daughter, particularly as a firstborn child.
Evidence Supporting the Correlation
Several studies, including a binary logistic regression analysis, have shown that higher levels of parental attractiveness increase the odds of having a daughter. This effect holds even when controlling for factors like age at first childbirth, education, social class, and parental height and weight. [^1, ^2, ^3] One study found that 56% of the most attractive parents in their sample had a daughter as their first child, compared to only 48% of less attractive parents.[^4] Another study reported a 26% increased likelihood of having a girl as a firstborn child for attractive couples compared to less attractive couples.[^5] These studies consistently suggest a link between parental attractiveness and having more daughters.
[^1]: Multiple binary logistic regression analysis (source unspecified in provided text but referenced multiple times).
[^2]: Beautiful People Have More Daughters | Psychology Today
[^3]: Beautiful parents have more daughters: a further implication of the Trivers-Willard hypothesis (Source: personal.lse.ac.uk/kanazawa/pdfs/JTB2007.pdf)
[^4]: Do Beautiful Parents Have More Daughters? | Discover Magazine
[^5]: Attractive Couples Have More Daughters - John M Jennings
Potential Explanations
While the exact mechanism remains unclear, the Trivers-Willard hypothesis offers a potential explanation. This hypothesis suggests that parents in better condition (in this case, more attractive parents) may invest more resources in daughters, who have higher reproductive potential under conditions of parental care, compared to sons.
Important Note
It's crucial to understand that this correlation doesn't imply causation. Attractiveness is a complex trait, and the relationship between parental attractiveness and offspring sex ratio is likely influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors not yet fully understood.
