Study: women prefer feminine faces

London -- A British study suggests women judge men with more feminine features to be more committed in relationships and better parents.

The research team, featuring psychologists from Durham University and St. Andrews University, asked more than 400 people to predict personality traits of men based on photographs that were digitally altered to appear more masculine -- square jaw, larger nose and smaller eyes -- or more feminine -- fuller lips and wider eyes -- The Telegraph reported Wednesday.

The majority of test subjects found the men in the more masculine pictures to be less faithful, more detached and worse fathers, while the more feminine men were considered to be more caring, nurturing and faithful.

David Perrett, one of the study's authors, said the healthiness of the face also had an effect on the women. He said good health can help override the undesirable masculine features.

"Our research also found that it is men's health that conveys all-round good qualities for partnership and personality," he said.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.