This study set out to test the overall relations between female college students’ appearance involvement, clothing conspicuous consumption, and clothing consumption value according to their narcissism by using the structural modeling. It also aimed ...
This study set out to test the overall relations between female college students’ appearance involvement, clothing conspicuous consumption, and clothing consumption value according to their narcissism by using the structural modeling. It also aimed to categorize them according to narcissism and examine differences among the groups in appearance involvement, clothing conspicuous consumption, and clothing consumption value. The results were expected to illuminate the causes and mechanisms of lookism in modern society, help beauty and clothing companies identify their actual customers, and provide basic data for setting up effective marketing strategies.
The study adopted the methodology of investigative study.
The subjects were female college students aged 17~25 and born between 1982 and 1990 who were convenience sampled according to age, major, and grade. Data gathering took place from October 8 to October 20, 2007. Total 1,100 questionnaires were distributed, and 982 were returned. After excluding 22 questionnaires whose responses were not sincere or complete, total 960 questionnaires were statistically treated and used in analysis.
The collected data were analyzed with the SPSS 12.0 and Amos 7.0 program in terms of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Factor analysis with Varimax Rotation was also conducted along with reliability test, correlation analysis, one-way ANOVA, χ2-test, and covariance structure analysis(structural equation modeling). And Scheffe test was also carried out as post-test.
The research findings were as follows:
First, the subjects earned mean 3.28 on a five-point Likert scale of self-conscious narcissism, which was characterized by positive and healthy narcissism on a two-dimensional narcissism scale. The standard deviation of the factor was 0.53. And the subjects scored mean 3.49 for other-conscious narcissism whose characteristics included negative and maladaptive. The factor’s standard deviation was 0.51.
Second, the relations between the subjects’ narcissism and demographic characteristics were examined. The results indicate that the more they spent on clothes a month on average, the more monthly income the heads of their families earned, and the higher they were positioned in the social class system, the more self- and other-conscious narcissism they showed.
Third, all the subfactors of narcissism had statistically significant positive relations with appearance involvement, clothing conspicuous consumption, and clothing consumption value in each of their subfactors, but there were no statistically significant relations between the subfactors of narcissism and the price factor of clothing conspicuous consumption.
Fourth, the relational model between narcissism and clothing consumption value suggested in the study had good fitness. It’s thus proved that narcissism is an essential factor for the appearance and fashion industry to consider since it exerts important influences on appearance involvement, clothing conspicuous consumption, and clothing consumption value.
Fifth, the subjects were categorized according to the positive and negative aspects of narcissism. There were 156(16.3%) in the “group of self-conscious narcissism” that showed a high level of self-conscious narcissism and was considered to have positive narcissism. The groups with negative narcissism were the “compositive narcissism group” and “the group of other-conscious narcissism” both of which showed a high level of other-conscious narcissism. The compositive narcissism group contained 327(34.1%) and the group of other-conscious narcissism did 130(13.4%). And the “group of withdrawn narcissism” showed a low level of both self- and other-conscious narcissism and included 347(36.1%).
Sixth, there were statistically significant differences between the narcissism groups and such demographic characteristics as grade, average monthly spending on clothes, and social class. The compositive narcissism group and the group of other-conscious narcissism spent more money on clothes every month than the group of self-conscious narcissism and the group of withdrawn narcissism. Both the compositive narcissism group and the group of self-conscious narcissism, which had a high level of self-conscious narcissism, subjectively considered themselves as the upper class.
Seventh, the differences in appearance involvement were reviewed among the narcissism groups. The results suggest that the highest level of appearance involvement was observed in the compositive narcissism group, which was followed by the group of other-conscious narcissism, the group of self-conscious narcissism, and finally the group of withdrawn narcissism. But it was an exceptional case that the group of self-conscious narcissism scored more points than the group of other-conscious narcissism in the factor of “body image” that involved a positive thinking of one’s body, satisfaction with it, and constant concern for it.
Eighth, it was investigated if there would be any differences among the narcissism groups in terms of clothing conspicuous consumption. As a result, statistically significant differences were found in three factors of pursuit for famous brands, others and vogues except for the price factor. Displaying a high level of other-conscious narcissism, the compositive narcissism group and especially the group of other-conscious narcissism were very conscious of others and showed a very strong preference for famous brands.
Ninth, the differences in clothing consumption value were examined among the groups. The results show that the compositive narcissism group scored the highest points in all the factors of clothing consumption value and the group of withdrawn narcissism scored the lowest points in all the factors.
And tenth, the groups were examined for their psychology- and behavior-specific acts with respect to appearances. As a result, the members of the group of self-conscious narcissism were satisfied with their bodies and confident in the ways their bodies were seen by others. On the contrary, both the compositive narcissism group and group of other-conscious narcissism were extremely concerned with their weight gains. With the exception of the group of withdrawn narcissism, all the groups were actively engaging in the four methods of watching their figures, which include regular exercise, instrumental regulation, fasting and abstinence from food, and Oriental medicine. The compositive narcissism group and the group of other-conscious narcissism showed a high level of appearance management through plastic surgery and makeup, in which factor the group of self-conscious narcissism scored lower points than the group of withdrawn narcissism.
In short, the compositive narcissism group and the group of other-conscious narcissism, which showed a high level of other-conscious narcissism, spent a lot of money on appearance management and conspicuous and general clothes shopping and resorted to plastic surgery and medicine in the highest frequency. Meanwhile, the members of the group of self-conscious narcissism, which showed a high level of self-conscious narcissism, were satisfied with their bodies and didn’t pursue a conspicuous or fashionable element in choosing clothes.
The results confirm that narcissism has critical impacts on appearance involvement, clothing conspicuous consumption, and clothing consumption value and imply that the relations among them can build a model. But it should be noted that the results should be understood by taking into account the various limitations of the study. The study was wrapped up with a discussion of the themes for follow-up researches to complement it.