A Study on Personal Adornment Associated with Sexual Orientation and Psychological Characteristics

The objectives of this study were to investigate hair style preferences, and use of cosmetics according to sexual orientation and demographic variables, to examine the relationship among hair style preferences, use of cosmetics, and anxiety and self-esteem. The subjects were 536 men (heterosexual : 353, gay : 183) of 20's and 30's living in metropolitan area of Seoul. Homosexuals preferred individualistic adornments and appearance, and the higher the ability anxieties and the miscellaneous anxieties they in both sexual orientation groups preferred unique individualistic hairstyles and used coloring cosmetics more. In the sales and service workers and students both sexual orientation groups preferred individualistic personal adornment while in the office workers they both preferred conservative appearance. In the same occupations, there were significant differences in the physical adornments according to sexual orientation in the sales and service workers and students groups. Homosexuals used individual adornments according to their sexual orientation. Both homosexuals and heterosexuals had low use of physical adornments.