Effect of Economic Stress on Perceived Clothing Deprivation Among High School Students

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of economic stress on perceived clothing deprivation among high school students. Questionnaires were completed by 336 ninth through twelfth grade students who were enrolled in home economics classes at six high schools. The students were 13 to 20 years of age; 82% were female. The clothing deprivation measure consisted of 27 items based on measures developed by previous researchers. Factor analysis generated two factors from the 27 items which were used as the two dependent variables in subsequent analyses: F₁, Inability to Buy; and F₂, Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. The students were divided into four groups according to reported level of economic stress. Results indicated that economic stress had a significant overall effect on perceived clothing deprivation. Univariate F tests revealed significant effects for both clothing deprivation factors. Post hoc tests indicated that for F₁, the lowest economic stress group perceived less clothing deprivation than did any of the other three groups; also, the second lowest group perceived less deprivation than did the highest group. For F₂, the highest economic stress group perceived higher clothing deprivation than did any of the other three groups.