Attitudes Toward Clothing of Elderly Men

Individuals use clothing to foster self-esteem and to assist in social encounters. Daily choice of personal attire remains one way by which elderly individuals in institutions may express feelings about self and attitudes towards others. The purpose of this research was to identify general themes present in elderly institutionalized men's attitudes toward clothing and to ascertain whether attitudes toward clothing were associated with social roles performed by the men. Themes of clothing awareness, comfort, and social approval emerged from factor analysis of the questionnaire items. The majority of the men wanted clothing that was comfortable, up-to-date, and like that of their friends. Clothing was considered to enhance self-confidence and to assist in impression management. Men who were less active in the leisure role showed greater interest in the psychological and social components of clothing. Recommendations are made for practition ers who assist elderly men with their clothing.