• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.879-893
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• 2016

This study explores the determinants of clothing disposition and examines their effect on the dimensions of clothing disposition behavior. The data of 316 women were collected nationwide using an online self-administered questionnaire. This study initially identified five types of disposition behavior as revising, permanent separation, giving away, selling, and donating to charity. Exploratory and confirmative factor analysis identified the underlying determinants of clothing disposition as self-concept, reusability, economic factor, social environment, affective association, storage, fashionableness, and a sense of belongingness. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the relationships between variables. The results demonstrated that six out of eight determinants significantly affected clothing disposition behavior. The effects of social environment and a sense of belongingness were relatively strong determinants that influenced the four types of disposition behaviors. However, self-concept and affective association did not influence the disposition behaviors. A series of one-way MANOVA was conducted to determine the effect of the eight demographic variables on the four modes of clothing disposition. Giving away, permanent separation, and donating to charity differed significantly in the groups of three demographic variables such as age, monthly income, and marital status. This study empirically elucidates what criteria consumers use when confronted with unused clothing and how the determinants of clothing disposition influence the modes of clothing disposition behavior. This study provides a framework for clothing disposition behavior and its determinants as well as suggests a new approach to clothing disposition behavior and improvements in marketing decisions.