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Depression: Relationships to Clothing and Appearance Self‐Concept
Author(s) -
Dubler Mary Lynn Johnson,
Gurel Lois M.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
home economics research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 0046-7774
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x8401300104
Subject(s) - clothing , mood , psychology , depression (economics) , depressed mood , social psychology , ideal (ethics) , applied psychology , clinical psychology , history , archaeology , economics , macroeconomics , philosophy , epistemology
References to relationships between depression and self‐concept can be found in the literature. So, too, research indicates a relationship between self‐concept and clothing. The purpose of this research was to demonstrate relationships between depression and clothing and appearance self‐concept. Instruments used were a mood scale, a measure of the intensity of depression, and ideal and perceived clothing and appearance self‐concept scales developed for this re search. The data were collected from two groups of women over a 28‐day time span. One group was in a counseling situation; the second group was composed of university faculty and staff. Scores on the measure of clothing and appearance self‐concept increased with level of depression. This was interpreted to mean that clothing may be used to enhance one's appearance in an attempt to boost self‐concept and mood.