Effect of perceived clothing deprivation on high school students' social participation. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect ofperceived clothing deprivation on social participation of adolescents. A questionnaire was developed to measure perceived clothing deprivation and social participation. The sample was comprised of 338 high school students enrolled in ninth through twelfth grades at six high schools. Factor analysis generated two clothing deprivation factors: Inability to Buy and Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Two social participation factors were also generated: Social Competence and Social Participation. Results indicated that clothing deprivation had a significant effect on social participation. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant main effects for both Inability to Buy and Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Univariate F tests revealed significant main effects for both clothing deprivation factors on both social participation factors. The beneficial effect of social participation on adoles-cent development has been generally accepted (Roff, Sells, & Golden, 1972). Poor social competence and poor peer relationships in children can contribute to later problems, such as juvenile delinquency, school dropout, and psychiat-ric problems (Cowen, Pedersen, Babigian, Izzo, & Trost, 1973). Therefore, it is important to facilitate opportunities for social participation within this age group. One possible barrier to social participation may be feelings of perceived clothing deprivation. Past researchers have measured clothing deprivation as being well dressed (Vener & Hoffer,1959) or, more recently, as the opposite of satisfaction, that is dissatisfaction o