Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Family and Consumer Sciences

First Advisor

Sarah T. Hawkins

Second Advisor

David A. Gilman

Third Advisor

Frederica L. Kramer

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of different apparel sizes (apparel sizes smaller than 14 and 14 and larger) on the relationships between appearance management factors and apparel shopping behavior of Caucasian and Asian international females. Appearance management factors were divided into sociocultural factors (media), personal factors, and psychological or behavioral factors. One hundred thirty-eight subjects (75 Caucasians wearing apparel sizes smaller than 14; 17 Caucasian females wearing apparel sizes 14 and larger; and 46 Asian international females wearing apparel sizes smaller than 14) completed a questionnaire, which was designed to measure subjects' appearance management factors and apparel shopping behaviors by using a 5-point-Lickert scale. lll Correlations between appearance management factors and apparel shopping behavior revealed sociocultural factors (media) to be significantly related to apparel shopping behavior in all groups; personal factors had significant relationships for subjects who wore apparel sizes smaller than 14; and psychological or behavioral factors had no relationships to apparel shopping for any subject groups. Comparison of two correlation coefficients revealed no differences in the correlations between appearance management factors and apparel shopping behaviors of the two groups wearing different apparel sizes except for the relationship to TV viewing level and no differences for the two different racial backgrounds of female groups. Behavioral factors ( exercising/dieting) often related to eating disorders were practiced infrequently by all subject groups, probably contributing to the lack of relationship. Similar factors seem to influence apparel shopping behavior for all subjects regardless of apparel size and race.

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