Turning to Botox and other cosmetic treatments is a personal decision for women prompted by a variety of reasons.

A study suggests that motivations, such as boosting their career or self-esteem, are regarded more sympathetically.

Researchers studied the reactions of 306 participants to different scenarios in which middle-aged women had anti-ageing treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers.

For example, the group of men and women was told: ‘Beth is a middle-aged woman who wants to maintain a more youthful appearance to look for a romantic partner.

‘She regularly uses professional treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers as part of her anti-ageing treatment.’

A Swansea University study found that women who got Botox for romantic reasons were judged more harshly than those who got it done to boost their career or self-esteem. (File image)

The Swansea University study found that women took specific aims into account. It said: ‘They evaluated the women most positively when age concealment was motivated by self-esteem, followed by employment and least positively for romantic purposes.

Lead author Michael Jeanne Childs believes women are judged more when they get treatments for romance as they are viewed as a competitor

‘This finding highlights the idea that personal wellbeing as motivation for appearance enhancement is more accepted than other motivations.’

Men generally were harsher critics of attempts to stave off the ageing process, according to a report in the journal Evolutionary Behavioural Sciences.

However, the reason was not so important as they judged women the same regardless of their aim in having the treatment.

Lead author Michael Jeanne Childs said: ‘From an evolutionary perspective, women are judged more negatively by other women when they use treatments to attract a partner because they may be viewed as a potential competitor.’