The Impact of Face Masks on Social Perception Is Age-Dependent

Human faces are critical for social communication, enabling individuals to make rapid judgments about traits like trustworthiness and competence. Previous research suggests that face masks can enhance perceptions of trustworthiness and, to a lesser extent, competence, although findings on competence are more variable and context-dependent. Additionally, age-related facial cues influence social judgments, with older and younger faces being evaluated differently. This research examined the impact of face masks on perceptions of trustworthiness and competence across two age groups: young adults (Study 1) and old adults (Study 2). Study 1 revealed that face masks increased perceptions of trustworthiness and competence for young faces. In contrast, Study 2 found no significant effects of face masks on trustworthiness or competence for older faces, suggesting that age-related facial features and stereotypes may overshadow mask-induced perceptual biases. Altogether, the findings indicate that the impact of face masks on social perceptions, particularly trustworthiness and competence, may not generalize reliably across different age groups.