A recent study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior found that both men and women who have greater upper body strength tend to have more lifetime sexual partners compared to their peers. The study, conducted by researchers at Washington State University, analyzed data from 4,316 U.S. adults between 2013-2014.
According to lead author Caroline Smith, this finding challenges the popular theory that men’s strength is linked to reproductive success due to competition for mates. Instead, it suggests that both men and women who are physically strong may be more successful in attracting partners, possibly because they can provide more resources or feel less dependent on men.
The study controlled for various factors such as health and testosterone levels but found a significant correlation between upper body strength and the number of lifetime partners for both men and women. While there was no clear explanation for why women with greater upper body strength had more partners, researchers suggested that assortative mating or the idea that physically strong individuals may feel less dependent on men could be contributing factors.
The study’s findings highlight the need for further research to understand the relationship between physical strength and human behavior, particularly when it comes to women. As Smith noted, “I believe it’s essential to continually test our theories by expanding our research questions to include women.”
Source: https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2025/01/14/strength-connected-to-sexual-behavior-of-women-as-well-as-men