• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.27-42
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine: (1) the relationships among internalization of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, body comparison, and body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls; and (2) whether or not body comparison mediates the relationship between internalization of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and body dissatisfaction. The participants consisted of 291 girls from fifth through ninth grades. The data were collected by means of questionnaires given in classroom settings. The findings are as follows: there are significant bivariate correlations among internalization of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, body comparison, and body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, body comparison partially mediates the relationship between internalization of sociocultural attitude towards appearance and body dissatisfaction. These results seem to indicate that the idea that there are multiple standards of beauty and individuality for every person should be promoted, and this in turn could lower the risk of body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.96-109
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• 2008

The proposes of this study were to exam the effects of internalization of sociocultural values toward appearance on adolescents' body image and clothing behaviors, and to analyze these effects by adolescents' sex and age variables. The research method was survey and the subjects were 447 male and female adolescents in Daejeon, Korea. The questionnaire consisted of 4 measuring instruments; internalization of sociocultural values toward appearance, body image, clothing behaviors, and demographic attributions. The data were analyzed by factor analysis, t-test, variance analysis, Duncan's multiple range test, using SPSS program. The results are as follows. First, most of adolescents showed positive attitude on sociocultural values toward appearance, and female and high school students revealed higher level of internalization than male and middle school students. Second, as a result of factor analysis, 3 factors emerged in body image(appearance interest, appearance evaluation, and weight concern) and 4 factors emerged in clothing behaviors(clothing interest & psychological dependency, clothing ostentation, clothing conformity, and clothing comfort). Third, internalization of sociocultural values toward appearance had important effects on adolescents' body image and clothing behaviors; the adolescents who had high level internalization showed more interest on their appearance and weight and higher clothing interest & psychological dependency and clothing ostentation and lower clothing comfort than other adolescents who had middle or low level internalization. Forth, internalization of sociocultural values toward appearance showed many different effects on body image and clothing behaviors by adolescents' sex and age variables.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.523-530
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• 2011

This study aims to make a comparison between variables influencing female college students' body shame and appearance change intention in individualist culture(Germany) and collectivist culture(Korea, China), that which variable among individual's physical character(BMI), psychological character(public self-image), and sociocultural pressure has the biggest influence in each culture. The findings of the research are as follows. 1. The German group of female college students had the highest BMI, and there were no difference between Korean and Chinese group. Public self-consciousness, sociocultural pressure, ideal appearance attitude, body shame, and appearance change intention were highest in Korea and lowest in Germany. 2. The variables that affected body shame were powerful in the order of sociocultural pressure, appearance internalization, BMI, and appearance awareness in the Korean group of female college students. In the Chinese group, the order was sociocultural pressure, appearance internalization, and public self-consciousness. On the contrary, in the German group the order was appearance internalization, appearance awareness, sociocultural pressure, and public self-consciousness. 3. The variables that affected appearance change intention were powerful in the order of sociocultural pressure, body shame, and appearance awareness in the Korean group of female college students. In the Chinese group, the order was sociocultural pressure, body shame, and appearance awareness, and in the German group, the order was appearance internalization, body shame, and BMI.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.30 no.2 s.150
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• pp.348-357
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• 2006

This study was designed to find out how the sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, BMI and body image of adult women affect their self-esteem. A questionnaire was prepared in the survey and a total of 456 adult women were selected by way of stratified random sampling. The research findings are as follows: 1. The sociocultural attitudes toward appearance were shown in two factors of 'internalization' and 'awareness'. The body image was shown in three dimensions of 'care for appearance', 'concern about weight', and 'appearance attractiveness'. 2. Internalization, recognition, and BMI influenced on 'care for appearance'. 'Concern about weight' was affected by internalization and BMI. Appearance attractiveness was affected only by BMI. 3. Adult women's self-esteem was influenced by appearance attractiveness, internalization, and care for appearance. 4. The behaviors of appearance management were differed according to the sociocultural attitudes towards appearance. Therefore, adult women form a higher degree of self-esteem is formed when they accept what they are regardless of their actual BMI and when they evaluate their body positively.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.563-578
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• 2022

Society's emphasis on a thin body ideal may intensify an individual's negative perceptions of fatness. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between sociocultural attitudes toward appearance (awareness and internalization of the female ideal) and anti-fat attitudes among middle-aged Korean women. In addition, the aim was to examine whether the body internalization of female ideals was a mediator in the proposed model. Participants included a sample of 264 middle-aged Korean women who completed a series of measures online. The following information was collected through online questionnaires: awareness and internalization of the female ideal, attitudes toward fat, body weight perception, and demographics. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis, descriptive analysis, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The measurement model and the structural model testing provided an acceptable fit to the data, and all proposed pathways in the research model were statistically significant. Awareness of the female ideal was significantly and positively associated with internalization, and it significantly and positively predicted both constructs of anti-fat attitudes. Additionally, awareness of the female ideal was significantly and positively indirectly associated with attitudes toward fat people-dislike and willpower mediated by internalization. Overall, these findings suggest that society's emphasis on female appearance and a thin body can ultimately result in significant stigmatization of overweight/obese individuals. This study emphasizes the importance of establishing a healthy appearance standard to reduce anti-fat prejudice.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1-18
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and narcissism on body stress. Questionnaires are being administered to 206 women in their 20's-50's living in Deagu and Kyunbook province. The Frequency, factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, ANOVA, and Duncan-test are used for data analysis. Sociocultural attitudes toward appearance are categorized into media appearance internalization and social recognition of appearance. Narcissism factors are found to be leadership/privilege, ostentation, and superiority. Body stress is categorized into 4 factors: weight stress, skin aging stress, body dissatisfaction, and hair stress. Sociocultural attitudes toward appearance was related to the sub-variables of narcissism, and body stress. Media appearance internalization is the sun-variable of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and has significant effects on weight stress, skin aging stress, and body dissatisfaction sub-variables for body stress. Ostentation, and superiority being the sub-variables of narcissism, have significant effects on weight stress, skin aging stress, body dissatisfaction, and hair stress, the sub-variables for body stress. Ages of women display distinctions between the sub-variables in sociocultural attitudes toward appearance such media appearance internalization, and in narcissism such leadership/privilege, ostentation, superiority, and body stress such weight stress, skin aging stress, body dissatisfaction, and hair stress. This result can be a necessary base line data for adult women's appearance management by examining the influence of the attitude toward the appearance developed from the relationship with people around body stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.620-633
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• 2019

The popularity of cosmetic procedures has increased over the past decade. Korean consumers have shown different levels of demand for the two types of cosmetic procedures (surgical and nonsurgical). This study examines the effect of appearance pressure from family, friends, and social media on the internalization and face/body satisfaction that can determine the levels of acceptance for each cosmetic procedure among young Korean females. Data was collected from 379 females in their 20s and 30s, using an online survey questionnaire. Statistical analysis were performed using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS. The results indicated that only social media pressure significantly influenced young women's internalization of attractive appearance. Internalization was negatively associated with face and body satisfaction. Face satisfaction was negatively related to the acceptance of cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures; however, body satisfaction was not related to the acceptance of cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures. This study highlights the significant importance of social media and its powerful impact on developing young women's body image perceptions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.328-349
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• 2024

In the last decade, Korean culture has progressively facilitated the assimilation of appearance-related norms established by modern Korean society among young generations in Vietnam. Of note, Vietnamese consumers residing in Korea, under the influence of diverse sociocultural factors, are aligning themselves with an ideal standard of Korean beauty through cultural adaptation. This study explores how Vietnamese students internalize Korean beauty standards and the resultant negative behavioral reactions. We investigated the effects of sociocultural pressures (media, in-group, and out-group pressure) on risky appearance management and irrational purchase behavior by mediating sociocultural internalization toward appearance. We tested how the mechanism underlying these variables differs based on how long one has resided in Korea. A total of 213 female participants were surveyed online. The research model was tested using structural equation modeling through AMOS 22.0. The findings show that media and out-group pressure significantly increased sociocultural internalization, which led to consumer behavior in the form of risky appearance management and irrational purchases. The influence of internalization on consumption behavior was stronger for short-term residents of Korea. This study contributes to the literature on acculturation by investigating how foreign consumers accept the host country's ideal beauty standards.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2006

This study was designed to find out how the sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, BMI(Body Mass Index) of adult women affect their body image and body satisfaction. A questionnaire was prepared in the survey and a total of 456 adult women were selected by way of stratified random sampling. The research findings are as follows. The sociocultural attitudes toward appearance were shown in two factors of 'internalization' and 'recognition' The body image was shown in three dimensions of 'care for appearance,' 'concern about weight,' and 'appearance attractiveness'. Internalization, recognition, and BMI affected care for appearance. Concern about weight was affected by internalization, and BMI. Appearance attractiveness was affected only by BMI. Most people were not satisfied with their weight and overall body shape in spite that they in fact had normal or lean figures except 3.3% of the total samples. From the above research findings, adult women's satisfaction with their body was shown high when they were subjectively satisfied with their appearance attractiveness. And the results indicate that adult women are under pressure of socioculturally distorted image of beauty.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.811-820
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• 2012

This study identifies the factor structure of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, appearance management attitudes, fashion behaviors, and the effects of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and appearance management attitudes on fashion behaviors. Questionnaires were administered to 255 college students living in Daegu Metropolitan City and Kyungbook province. The data collected were analyzed using frequency, factor analysis, multiple regression, and t-test. The findings were as follows. Sociocultural attitudes toward appearance were composed of two factors (body internalization and appearance recognition). Appearance management attitudes were composed of four factors (shape management recognition, weight management, appearance satisfaction, and health care). Fashion behaviors were composed of six factors (convenience, fashion following, self-satisfaction, attractiveness, pursuit of change, and pleasure). Gender of college students showed a distinction between the sub-variables of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance factors (body internalization) and appearance management attitudes (weight management) and fashion behaviors (convenience, fashion following, self-satisfaction, and pleasure). Women had more desire to have a similar looking body of TV celebrities than men. The effects of sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and appearance management attitudes on each fashion behavior variables (convenience, fashion following, self-satisfaction, attractiveness, pursuit of change, and pleasure) were explained by the factors of body internalization and appearance recognition, and weight management, appearance satisfaction, and health care. College students produced fashion appropriate to the situation. Strategies of fashion marketing based on these results are as follow. Through mass media, advertisers help university students realize a healthy outlook and create a social atmosphere that can promote healthy body attractions.