Physical Attractiveness and Nursesʼ Perceptions of Pediatric Patients

This study investigated the effect of the physical attractiveness of pediatric patients on nursesʼ impressions. Sixty-six nurses answered questions about pediatric patients who were allegedly involved in a disturbance in a hospital. The patients who were rated varied in attractiveness. Nurses held a patient less personally responsible for the disturbance, attributed a patientʼs behavior to situational causes, and perceived the attending nurse as more responsible when the patient was highly attractive. In contrast, an unattractive patient was reported to have a higher probability of emotional problems. These findings are consistent with the work of Dion (1972).