Study on the Relationship of Appearance Instrumentality and Appearance-related Variables of College Students

This study examines on the relationship of appearance instrumentality and appearance-related variables (appearance concern, appearance management behavior) of college students. Questionnaires were administered to 313 college students living in Daegu. The SPSS 20.0 package was utilized for data analysis which included frequency analysis, Cronbach's α, factor analysis, cluster analysis, cross tabulation analysis and t-test. Three factors of appearance instrumentality(love relationship, social achievement, interpersonal relationship), two groups of appearance concern(high, low) and five factors of appearance management behavior(skin care/cosmetics usage behavior, body management behavior, plastic surgery behavior, hair management behavior, fashion management behavior) were utilized for the problem analysis of the study. The results of this study were: First, there was no significant differences in the appearance concern group according to appearance instrumentality. Second, appearance instrumentality had a significant differences on appearance management behavior. Social achievement showed a significant differences in plastic surgery behavior. And love relationship showed a significant differences on plastic surgery behavior and fashion management behavior. Third, the appearance concern had a significant differences on all of appearance management behavior. High group of appearance concern showed a higher average than low group of appearance concern in fashion management behavior, skin care/cosmetics usage behavior, hair management behavior, plastic surgery behavior, body management behavior.