If you've ever wondered why older women hanker after Pierce Brosnan while younger ladies prefer Zac Efron, scientists now have the answer.

As part of a study, experts have decoded what women of different ages find the most attractive in a partner.

Researchers asked 122 Polish women aged between 19 and 70 to rate a range of photographs of men.

These had been digitally altered to show varying degrees of facial masculinity, beardedness, body shape and muscle mass.

Analysis, published in the journal Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, revealed distinct patterns depending on their age.

Older women find men with fuller beards and with a slimmer build more attractive than younger women do, the study showed.

Postmenopausal women, specifically, rated feminine features and a V–shaped body as less attractive compared to women in other life stages.

And it could explain why mothers and daughters differ so greatly in who they find good–looking.

A selection of images shown as part of the study. The top row shows changes to face shape, with A as feminized, B as medium and C as masculinized. The second row shows changes to facial hair with A as light, B as medium and C as a full beard

Women were also asked to rank differences in body shape (top line) and the amount of muscles (bottom line)

The researchers said the differences in preference could reflect traits that are prioritised at certain times of life.

Younger women who are in their reproductive years may prefer muscles because they indicate physical fitness and strength.

As they get older, reproductive concerns vanish and a slimmer build – which might indicate health – becomes more appealing.

Beards, meanwhile, can be linked to maturity and status, which older women may prioritise.

'Significant differences in women's assessments were found,' the team, from Wroclaw Medical University, wrote.

'In terms of physical attractiveness, in this study it was found that older women rated medium to full beards as more attractive compared to younger women.

'While more facial hair may enhance perception of man's masculinity, age and potential reproductive success, it may also signal lower attachment and lower parental investment in offspring.

'Therefore, older women, who may be less focused on fertility–related traits due to suppression of reproductive functions in menopause, may instead prioritize behaviours associated with resource acquisition or social dominance.

The results showed that as women got older, they rated facial hair as progressively more attractive