The purpose of this study was first, to clarify the clothing benefits that Uzbek female college students seek through clothing products; and second, to determine whether there is a difference in clothing involvement and clothing purchasing behavior according to the type of clothing benefits. Data were collected from 290 female university students from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and analyzed using factor analysis, K-means group classification analysis, ANOVA, Duncan test, χ2-test, and frequency analysis. Respondents were classified into four types according to their clothing benefits: individuality/economy-pursuit, comfort-pursuit, fashion/brand-pursuit, and indifference. Significant differences were identified in terms of clothing involvement, information sources, clothing evaluation criteria, clothing store attributes, clothing wearing conditions (including monthly clothing expenses), number of purchases per year, clothing purchase location, clothing preference style, and clothing dissatisfaction. The fashion/brand-pursuit and personality/economy-pursuit types were influenced more by fashion and symbolism of clothing involvement, information sources, clothing evaluation criteria, and clothing store attributes. The individuality/economy-pursuit type purchased more frequently, spent more monthly clothing expenses, and used the internet. Clothing store attributes were considered more important by female students than the other attributes. In these results, clothing benefits were identified as consumer characteristics of female Uzbek college students and market segmentation was determined. In addition, it is meaningful in providing basic data for efficient marketing activities and minimizing trials and errors in establishing local-friendly strategies for target customers in different cultures.

This study investigated multidimensional body image, self-esteem, clothing benefits sought, and Body Image After Breast Cancer (BIABC) within surgical subgroups among breast cancer survivors. The study applied the questionnaire survey method and the main research was conducted through an online survey. The respondents included 207 breast cancer survivors between the ages of 30 and 59, each of whom received the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). Self-esteem, clothing benefits sought, examination, and demographic variables were measured using a 5-point Likert scale. The main results of this study are outlined below. For clothing benefit sought, six factors were formulated—pursuit of self-expression/social approval, function/health, compensation, femininity, fashion, and camouflage—and BIABC was defined by the four factors of body stigma/vulnerability, transparency, limitation and cancer concern. While MBSRQ and self-esteem did not show a statistically significant difference between groups differentiated by the surgical methods experienced, those who underwent mastectomies scored slightly lower than members of the other groups. Moreover, the reconstruction after mastectomy group showed the highest mean on self-expression/social approval, compensation, femininity and entire clothing benefits sought, followed by the lumpectomy group and mastectomy group. The lumpectomy group was found to have more positive BIABC than the mastectomy group. In particular, the mastectomy group showed a lower body stigma/vulnerability mean than the other groups. This study is meaningful in that it improves our understanding of the body image of breast cancer survivors and provides basic knowledge for developing products and marketing strategies for breast cancer survivors as consumers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in female college students' sociocultural attitude toward appearance and pursuit of clothing benefits according to their narcissism. Data collection was conducted through survey for female college students, and a total 221 questionnaires were used for data analyses. For analysis of data, frequency analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and one-way ANOVA were applied. The results were summarized as follows. First, the factor analysis on narcissism resulted in two dimensional structures: self-initiated and other-dependent narcissism. The respondents were categorized into four narcissism groups, such as compositive, self-initiated, other-dependent, and withdrawn narcissism groups. Second, the factor analysis on sociocultural attitude toward appearance resulted in two dimensional structures: internalization and awareness. Five dimensions of pursuit of clothing benefits were identified: individuality, self-expression, fashion, comfort, and social recognition pursuit. Third, there were significant differences among the categorized narcissism groups in sociocultural attitude toward appearance and pursuit of clothing benefits. The results confirm that narcissism has an impact on sociocultural attitude toward appearance and pursuit of clothing benefits. It is expected that this study provides insight for apparel makers or retailers to develop their marketing strategies.

The objective of this study was to take a closer look at the clothing benefits sought by breast cancer survivors in Korea. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted, using the focus group interview. Data was collected from members of online breast cancer forum. 18 participants were breast cancer survivors who had mastectomy or lumpectomy in their 30s~50s. The data was analyzed using content analysis in order to identify significant themes. The analysis indicated that benefits were sought after functional/comfort, health, feminity, and compensation were found. First, breast cancer survivors considered functional/comfort to be most important benefit so as to keep the body comfortable from the weather. Second, participants put the healthy body as the first priority and chose a well-being lifestyle and were likely to wear clothes made in healthy fabric, such as organic, bamboo or charcoal. Also, they preferred to look active by wearing sport brands or outdoorwear brands. Third, after the surgery, they experienced the sense of femininity loss and the sense of crisis as a woman. Single women and married women in early 30s recognized more seriously, and they tried to recover feminity by wearing clothes with feminine details. Forth, breast cancer survivor consumers tended to shop for the psychological compensation. In summary, consumers with breast cancer surgery, unlike general healthy women, did not sought to be economic, fashion, self-expression benefits, rather they sought health, femininity, and compensation benefits. Therefore, it seems necessary to develop proper products and marketing strategy to meet the said consumer's special needs.

This paper studied why middle-aged group is using active wear as casual wear. First, we can think of 'comfort', 'ideal body shape', 'trend', 'functionality', 'economy' for the reasons. We categorized the incentives as 'comfort/functionality pursuits', 'trend/economy pursuits', and 'ideal body shape pursuits'. Studies showed that statistically significant number of men pursue comfort and functionality, and statically significant number of women pursue trend and economy. Second, this study shows that the number of consumers who use the active wear in daily lives is greater than that of those who use it only for outdoor activities. The difference was statistically significant in T-shirts and pants. The most frequent usage was in social activities, and the next frequent usage was in cultural activities. The reason is that currently, middle-aged consumers are actively participating in social gatherings than any other activities. Especially, considering that the men wear active wear more than the women do, development of the product as men's casual wear that is compatible with other apparels will be necessary. We expect this study will be used as the preliminary data for a marketing strategy targeting the middle-ages.