Clothing satisfaction and self-concept of older women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible relationships between clothing satisfaction and self-concept of a select group of women age 65 and older. An increase in the number of elderly women in the population with special clothing needs led to the development of this research. Past research indicates that elderly women are dissatisfied with purchased clothing, yet prior to this study it was not known if or how the dissatisfactions were related to their self-concepts.

The sample consisted of 81 female residents of a retirement community in Salem, Virginia, and members of senior centers located in Floyd, Christiansburg, and Radford, Virginia. A questionnaire was developed for this research because a suitable one did not exist. It consisted of demographic variables, clothing satisfaction statements, and self-concept statements. Demographic data were collected to describe the sample and to compare it to the elderly population. Clothing satisfaction statements assessed satisfaction with clothing styles, fit, color, acquisition, cost, and care. An adaptation of Fitts' Tennessee Self Concept Scale was utilized to measure physical, personal, and social components of the self.

A frequency distribution was used to tabulate the data. A correlation analysis determined the relationships between clothing satisfaction variables and self-concept variables. The results of this study indicated that elderly women are dissatisfied with clothing on the mass market. Significant relationships were found between total self-concept and satisfaction with clothing styles, between social self and satisfaction with clothing cost, and between physical self and overall clothing satisfaction. It was found that no relationship existed between overall clothing satisfaction and total self-concept, but the researcher concluded that because of the significant relationships clothing satisfaction indirectly influences self-concept.