Effects of State of Fatness Perception on Weight Conscious Women's Clothing Practices

Abstract

This study began with three objectives. The first was to identify clothing functions for two different affective states: (a) when one feels fat or feels one has gained weight (Fat State), and (b) when one feels more slender or feels one has lost weight (Slender State). The second objective was to investigate the differing motivations behind, and clothing functions given, the two states. The third objective was to investigate the relationships between clothing functions given each state and subjects' feelings about their size and weight (Weight Factor from Mahoney and Finch's body cathexis instrument). The principal axis factor analysis of the data collected from 172 working females and 172 college females resulted in five factors that contribute to clothing functions: fashion, camouflage, assurance, individuality, and comfort. Significant differences were found between clothing functions for the Fat and Slender States, indicating that the motivations concerning clothing functions for the two states are basically different. When subjects perceived themselves to be fat, scores for camouflage, comfort, individuality, and assurance were negatively correlated with Weight Factors. However, when subjects felt slender, the only significant association was a low negative correlation of camouflage scores with Weight Factors.