The Effects of Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance and Appearance Management Attitudes on Fashion Behaviors - Focused on College Students -

Abstract

This study identifies the factor structure of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, appearance management attitudes, fashion behaviors, and the effects of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and appearance management attitudes on fashion behaviors. Questionnaires were administered to 255 college students living in Daegu Metropolitan City and Kyungbook province. The data collected were analyzed using frequency, factor analysis, multiple regression, and t-test. The findings were as follows. Sociocultural attitudes toward appearance were composed of two factors (body internalization and appearance recognition). Appearance management attitudes were composed of four factors (shape management recognition, weight management, appearance satisfaction, and health care). Fashion behaviors were composed of six factors (convenience, fashion following, self-satisfaction, attractiveness, pursuit of change, and pleasure). Gender of college students showed a distinction between the sub-variables of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance factors (body internalization) and appearance management attitudes (weight management) and fashion behaviors (convenience, fashion following, self-satisfaction, and pleasure). Women had more desire to have a similar looking body of TV celebrities than men. The effects of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and appearance management attitudes on each fashion behavior variables (convenience, fashion following, self-satisfaction, attractiveness, pursuit of change, and pleasure) were explained by the factors of body internalization and appearance recognition, and weight management, appearance satisfaction, and health care. College students produced fashion appropriate to the situation. Strategies of fashion marketing based on these results are as follow. Through mass media, advertisers help university students realize a healthy outlook and create a social atmosphere that can promote healthy body attractions.

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