Sample groups of 35 female adolescents with scoliosis and 35 peers without scoliosis were studied. The purposes of this research were (1) to investigate differences in selected clothing importance factors and self-perception domains between the two groups, and (2) to investigate the relationship between clothing importance and setf-perception within and between groups. Clothing variables were operationally defined by scores on an instrument used to measure the following clothing factors: conformity in clothing, modesty in clothing, psychological awareness of clothing, clothing to enhance self-concept, and interest in clothing. The Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents measured social acceptance, athletic competence, romantic appeal, physical attractiveness, and global self-worth. Data were analyzed using t-tests, Pearson Product Moment correlations, and Fisher's zr transformation. There was a difference between the two groups on only one clothing measure; the scoliosis sample had significantly lower scores on clothing to enhance self concept than did their peers. Significant differences were found between groups on all setf-perception variables with the scoliosis sample having the lower scores. Within groups 13 significant relationships were found between clothing importance and setf-perception for the scoliosis group and only two for the comparison group.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Allen, C.D. & Eicher, J.B. (1973). Adolescent girls acceptance and rejection based on appearance. Adolescence, VII, 29, 125-138.
2.
Berkowitz, L., & Frodi, A. (1979). Reactions to a child's mistakes as affected by his/her looks and speech. Social Psychology Quarterly, 42, 420-425.
3.
Berscheid, E. & Walster, E. (1972, March). Beauty and the Beast. Psychology Today, 42-46, 74.
4.
Berscheid, E., Walster, E., & Bohrnstedt, G. (1973, November). Body images . Psychology Today, pp. 119-123, 126, 128-131.
5.
Borsari, M.L.C. (1978). An analysis and revision of a clothing measure. Unpublished master's thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg.
6.
Burger, G.D. (1976). Setf-esteem and body satisfaction as they relate to clothing attitudes: A comparison of freshman and junior college women. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
7.
Cannon, M.L. (1969). Relationship of clothing and social activities of physically handicapped and non-handicapped children of junior high school age. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
8.
Clayson, D. (1980). Psychological problems of scoliosis in early adolescence . In P. A. Zorab & D. Siegler (Eds.), Scoliosis 1979 (pp. 227-231). London: Academic Press.
9.
Clayson, D. & Levine, D. (1976). Adolescent scoliosis patients and personality patterns and the effects of corrective surgery. Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, 116, 99.
10.
Cooley, C.H. (1902). Human nature and the social order, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, p 152.
11.
Crassweller, P., Gordon, M. Am., & Tedford, Jr., W.H. (1972). An experimental investigation of hitchhiking. Journal of Psychology, 82, 43-47.
12.
Creekmore, A.M. (no date). Methods of Measuring Clothing Variables, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Project783, pp. 96-101.
13.
Creekmore, A.M. (1980). Clothing and personal attractiveness of adolescents related to conformity, to clothing mode, peer acceptance, and leadership potential . Home Economics Research Journal, 8, 203-215.
14.
Durham, A., Md. (1988). How scoliosis is treated in Roanoke and the latest treatment for adults and children. Roanoke, VA: The Scoliosis Association.
Feather, B.L., Martin, B.B., & Miller, W.R. (1979). Attitudes toward clothing and self-concept of physically handicapped and able-bodied university men and women. Home Economics Research Journal, 7,234-240.
17.
Fisher, S. (1968). Body image. In D. Sills (Ed.), International encyclopedia of the social sciences, vol. 2. New York: Macmillan.
18.
Fisher, S., & Cleveland, S.E. (1958). Body image and personality . Princeton, New Jersey: D. Van Nostrand.
Gibbins, K. (1969). Communication aspects of women's clothes and their relation to fashionability. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 8, 301-312.
21.
Gurel, L.M. (1974). Dimensions of clothing interest based on factor analysis of Creekmore's 1968 clothing measure. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
22.
Harter, S. (1985). Competence as a dimension of self-evaluation. Toward a comprehensive model of self-worth. In R. Leahy (Ed.), The development of the self. Vol. 3. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
23.
Harter, S. (1986). Processes underlying the construction, maintenance, and enhancement of the self-concept in children. In J. Suls & A. Greenwald (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on the self (Vol. 3). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
24.
Harter, S. (1987). The determinants and functional role of self-concept: Implications for psychotherapy. In N. Eisenberg (Ed.), Contemporary topics in Developmental Psychology , Wiley.
25.
Harter, S. (1988a). Developmental and dynamic changes in the self-concept: Implications for psychotherapy. In. S. Shirk (Ed.), Cognitive development and child psychology. Plenum.
26.
Harter, S. (1988b). The construction and conservation of the self: James and Cooley revisited. In D. K. Lapsley & F. C. bower (Eds.), Self, ego and identity: Integrative approaches. New York : Springer-Verlag.
27.
Harter, S. (1988c). Self-perception profile for adolescents. Denver: University of Colorado.
28.
Harter, S. (1989). Causes, correlates and the functional role of global self-worth: A life-span perspective. In J. Kolligan & R. Sternberg (Eds.), Perceptions of competence and incompetence across the life-span . New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
29.
Horn, M.J. & Gurel, L.M. (1981). The second skin. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Co.
30.
Jourard, S.M., & Secord, P.F. (1955). Body-cathexis and personality. British Journal of Psychology, 46, 130-137.
31.
Kaiser, S.B. (1985). The social psychology of clothing. New York: Macmillian.
32.
Kaiser, S.B., Freeman, C., & Wingate, S.B. (1985). Stigmata and negotiated outcomes: The management of appearance by persons with physical disabilities. Deviant Behavior, 6, 205-224.
33.
Kleck, R. (1968). Physical stigma and non-verbal cue emitted in face-to-face interaction. Human Relations, 19(4), 425-436.
34.
Levine, D.B. (1980). Future research into scoliosis. In P. A. Zorab & D. Siegler (Eds.), Scoliosis 1979 (pp. 227-231). London: Academic Press.
35.
Littrell, M., & Eicher, J.B. (1973). Clothing opinions and the social acceptance process among adolescents. Adolescence, 8, 197-212.
36.
Medtronic, Inc. Neuro Division. (1983). Scoliosis: What are the facts? (No. NS-501).
37.
Meissner, A.L., Thoreson, R.W., & Butler, A.J. (1967). Relation of self-concept to impact and obviousness of disability among male and female adolescents. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 24, 1099-1105.
38.
Morganosky, M. & Creekmore, A.M. (1981). Clothing influence in adolescent leadership roles. Home Economics Research Journal , 9, 4.
39.
Popper, A. (1985, September). Curved spines: Space-age treatments kids won't mind. Woman's Day, pp. 42-43.
40.
Roaf, R. (1977). The effect of scoliosis on the patient's life . 9th Symposium (pp. 303-314). London: Academic Press.
41.
Roaf, R. (1980). How and when to do least harm in treatment of scoliosis. In P. A. Zorab & D. Siegler (Eds.), Scoliosis 1979 (pp. 227-231). London: Academic Press.
42.
Rowald, K.L. (1984). Sensitivity to the appearance of others and projection as factors on impression formation. Home Economics Research Journal, 13(2), 105-111.
43.
Ryan, M.S. (1966). Clothing: A study in human behavior. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
44.
Schiavo, R.S., Sherlock, B., & Wicklund, G. (1974). Effect of attire on obtaining directions. Psychological Reports, 34, 245-246.
45.
Settle, J.H. (1974). Relationships between body concept and clothing attitudes of blind and visually handicapped adolescents. Unpublished master's thesis, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg .
46.
Simmons, R.G., Blyth, D.A., Van Cleave, E.F., & Bush, D.M. (1979). Early into adolescence: The impact of school structure, puberty, and early dating on self-esteem. American Sociological Review, 44, 948-962.
47.
Snyder, A.E. (1975). Sensuous clothing in relation to self-esteem and body satisfaction. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
48.
Storm, P. (1987). Functions of dress: Tool of culture and the individual . New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, (pp. 257-266).
49.
The Scoliosis Association. (1979). Scoliosis.
50.
Toerien, E.S. (1987). Dimensions of clothing interest: A cross-cultural study. Unpublished master's thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg.
51.
Zeltzer K., (1978). Chronic illness in the adolescent. In I. R. Shenker (Ed.), Topics in adolescent medicine. New York: Stratton Intercontinental Book Corp.
