• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.423-436
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• 2001

The present study focused on the color of clothing for elderly Korean women, from the viewpoint of helping elderly people live more interesting lives with regard to their clothing, considering that the Korean society will become elderly-oriented in the near future. We took photographs of the elderly served as the models, displayed them on a computer screen, and produced 75 colors of the clothing in the elderly using computer graphics. The 75 colors were evaluated by 2 groups, one of elderly Korean woman group and a group of female students. We compared the ideal colors for and the colors actually worn by elderly people. The evaluation of the clothing colors for elderly women differed between the elderly woman group and the female student group. Analysis of images of the clothing colors selected by the elderly women showed that they attach importance to elegance when selecting clothing colors and have a strong desire to become active. The images held by female students concerning ideal clothing colors for elderly women closely pertained to commonness and inactivity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.26
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• pp.49-67
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between demographic and psychological variables and clothing behavior with reference to sex difference in adult and elderly groups. The clothing behavior was measured by Clothing importance, Interest, Conformity, Modesty, Psychological dependence, Aesthetics, Management, Fashion, and Clothing satis-faction. Psychological variables in this study were self-esteem and life-satisfaction, and demographic variables were sex, education, family type, health, and clothing expenditure. The hypotheses set up in this study were as follows : First, a causal relationship will exist between demographic and psychological variables and clothing behavior in both adult and elderly groups. Second, in clothing behavior a main effect will exist between male and female groups and between adult and elderly groups. Third, in clothing behavior and interaction effect will exist between sex and age. The subjects of this study were 496 adult males, 459 elderly males, and 446 elderly females residing in Pusan area. The material used in this study to measure the clothing behavior was a 5-point rating scale with 31 items in 9 sub-areas developed by the author. The data were collected by five investigatiors well trained in interview before-hand. The following conclusions were obtained from the relults and discussions of this study : First, sex, education, and clothing expendi-ture has a causal relationship with clothing behavior in adult group. Females, higher-educated group, and the group with more clothing expenditure reveal higher concern for clothing. In adult group life-satisfaction does not have any causal relationship with clothing behavior in general execpt for clothing satis-to Psychological dependence, Aesthetics, Management, and Clothing satisfaction in the group. Second, in elderly group sex, education, and health significantly contribute to clothing behavior. A cencern for clothing is higher in female, higher-educated group, and the group with higher perception in health. Self-esteem has a causal relationship with Clothing importance, Conformity, Management, and Clothing satisfaction, whereas life-satisfaction has a strong causal relationship with clothing behavior in general. Third, in both adult and elderly groups a sig-nificant sex diference exists in clothing behavior. Females show higher concern for Clothing importance, Interest, Psychological dependence, Aesthetics, Management, and Fashion than males. On the other hand, males reveal higher concern for Conformity and Clothing satisfaction than females. Fourth, a significant interaction effect exists between age and sex, while elderly females show lower concern for Clothing importance, Interest, and Psychological dependence than adult females, elderly males show higher concern for the same sub-areas of clothing behavior than adult males. This signifies the increase of the concern for clothing in elderly males with the decrease of social activities. Fifth, adult female group reveals lower Con-formity in clothing compared with the other groups, which signifies the higher individuality in clothing behavior. On the other hand, the elderly groups show significantly higher Conformity than the adult groups. this signifies the importance of the consideration for the variables other than individuality in clothing behavior for the group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.29 no.1 s.139
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• pp.177-188
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• 2005

The purpose of this research is to offer basic data for the elderly males and females's clothes design and pattern making through the questionnaires on the actual condition of their clothing life. The subject of research were 111 elderly males and 120 elderly females who aged between 60 and 79 in Pusan. The results are as follows: The elderly females take more interest in clothes and set a higher value on influence of clothes than males. The elderly males and females are extremely discontented with high price of store clothes. And most of them consider that store clothes are not suitable for their body, so it is necessary that dress shops to take a target for the aged. Princepally the elderly males do their shopping with their wives but the elderly females by themselves in a department store. When their purchasing clothes, the elderly males bear in mind 'size' but the elderly females 'design' in the highest priority. The elderly females have exacter idea of their size than males. But after buying their store clothes, most of the elderly males and females mend their clothes.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.147-155
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• 2013

The demand to complement the elderly body shape with comfortable clothing has greatly increased with the growing elderly population and their improved social-economic level. However, apparel industries have not provided significant production and sale strategies that reflect and consider elderly body shape characteristics. This study investigated the demand and complaints of current silver wear. This study was conducted on 100 elderly people 65 and over. The questionnaires were composed of Korean Activities of Daily Living (K-ADL) that reflect the general characteristics of the respondents related to clothing (clothing requirements and demands) and free comments on each question. Subsequently, we found that the most uncomfortable clothing parts were 'sleeve length' and 'crotch' in women and 'neck circumference' and 'pocket' in men when wearing shirts and pants respectively. Respondents felt that the button and zipper knob sizes were too small with the buttons too numerous. The results suggest that we should consider body shape changes caused by aging in order to develop elderly clothing patterns to improve the level of ADL. We anticipate apparel industries for the elderly to expand due to the rapid increase in the elderly population.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.75-87
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• 2000

The elderly are faced with unique problems in regard to their clothing life, which require solutions from various perspectives. Given these facts, this study was aimed at reviewing and comparing the clothing behaviors of elderly people in order to provide some basic data which apparel businesses targeting the elderly might find useful. The elderly people aged 55 and older and living in Seoul were sampled at random for a survey. The survey used the methods of interview and self-administered questionnaire. 418 questionnaires were distributed to women, and 504 to men. The collected data were processed using SPSS/PC for factor analysis, correlation, single-factor ANOVA and T-test. The results of the survey can be summarized as follows ; 1. Among 8 factors determining the clothing behaviors of elderly people, the importance of clothes and manageability of clothes scored highest on average, while conformity with one's peers scored lowest. 2. The clothing behaviors of elderly people differed significantly depending on their demographic variables. 3. The level of satisfaction with one's life and appearance differed significantly depending on their demographic variables. 4. Clothing behaviors of elderly people were closely correlated with their level of satisfaction with their life and appearance.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.277-285
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• 2013

This study examines the wearing comfort of elderly women through a physiological analysis based on rectal temperature and biochemical analysis with salivary melatonin and cortisol. This study was conducted on 7 elderly women aged 65 or over. Two kinds of clothing ensemble (control and prototype) were used as experimental clothing. The control clothing was a general clothing ensemble and the prototype clothing lowered clothing pressure by adding an extra gap. The experimental schedule included daily living activities with randomly assigned experimental clothing. Rectal temperature was constantly measured every 5 minutes during the experiment and saliva samples for melatonin and cortisol were collected twice per day before and after sleep. The rectal temperature was lower for the prototype than the control throughout the experiment, and its circadian rhythm was prompt and clear in prototype. In addition, melatonin was secreted more but cortisol was secreted less when the subjects wore the prototype clothing. With these results, we assumed that regular circadian rhythm and low level of stress might be caused by wearing prototype clothing that lowered clothing pressure. The results demonstrate the necessity to develop clothing that considers body changes in elderly women.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2008

A rapidly aging Korean population highlights the importance of investigating the actual state and needs of clothing for the elderly to provide basic information for a future senior industry. This paper surveyed clothing purchasing behaviors. The sample of this survey consisted of 210 females aged 55 over who live in Dajeoun and Nonsan. The data were analyzed by using SPSS. The major findings are as follows. First, most elderly women have bought the ready-made clothes in local markets. Second, the major consideration of clothing purchasing behavior was the possibility of outdoor wearing and color. They were satisfied with ready-made clothes because of the convenience to buy, design, and the necessity of the clothing brands for aged people. Third, they preferred pure cotton or mixed cotton even though they possessed the mixed cotton or synthetic fiber in clothing materials. Respondents preferred the feeling, heat-retaining property, and absorptiveness in textiles. The result indicates the demand for various material applications of functional textiles for elderly women.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.167-191
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• 1989

The present study was conducted to devlop and appropriate retirement home model for the elderly in terms of clothing and textiles; nutrition, health, and foodservice; housing and environment; and psychological adaptation. Specifically, the purposes of the study were: 1) to provide basic guidelines for clothing by comparing the clothing behavior of the elderly living in the retirement home and those living in their own homes with family, 2) to provide basic guidelines for balanced diet and effective foodservice, 3) to develop an ideal life space and facilities, and 4) to assess the psychological characteristics of the elderly. Questionnaires, observation, experimental method, and survey of literature were used for the study. Clothing behavior showed that the elderly were much concerned about clothing, and they preferred comfortable as well as fashionable designs. The elderly in the retirement homes complained of a lack of quantity and variety in clothing. They preferred natural fiber rather than blended fabrics. Flame resistance, thermal insulation, and flexibility of textile fabrics were found to be prime considerations in manufacturing and selecting clothing materials for the elderly. The health status of the surveyed elderly was generally good, but some poor eating habits were observed. Dietary nutrients intakes were generally sufficient, but several nutrients intakes were insufficient. The level of equipment in the kitchens of the institutions was low. Furthermore, the employment rate of dietitians in institutional settings was extremely low. This resulted in a lack of systematic foodservice management. Residents in the institution were generally satisfied with present life space and facilities but this was mainly because of abandonment, adaptation, and past experience. Optimal allocation of residents per bedroom and an adequate design for storage, bathroom, utility room, and dining room were recommended. The comparison of psychological status of the elderly living at home was more stable than those living in an institution. The emotional state of the elderly living in the institution was characterized by loneliness; they did not have close interpersonal relationships or future plans. An appropriate model for the elderly was developed on the basis of these findings.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.971-978
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• 2014

This study investigates the developmental conditions of functional clothes for the elderly. First, preceding studies and relevant web sites were analyzed along with a survey of commercial functional elderly clothes in Korea. A KIPRIS patent information database was used to study registered and disclosed patents and utility models in order to analyze patent application trends in relevant fields. Patents were searched by year of application from 1990 to 2013. Keywords used for searching included 'senior, aged, and elderly'. Among collected data, overlapping and irrelevant data were excluded to select 162 cases for analysis. Details of analysis are annual patent application trends of functional elderly clothes, topic analysis, shape and characteristics. An examination of commercially available functional clothing products for the elderly indicated that most of products were developed in the form of inner wear or protective clothing for seniors who have bodily discomfort. An annual patent application of functional elderly clothes showed slight fluctuations; however, there was an overall increase. For patent topics, technologies related to secretion and excretion were the most at 47 cases total (29%), followed by 23 cases (14%) on biometric information technology. However, the development of relevant technologies seems necessary in the future as therapeutic function and fiber technologies gradually stagnate.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1010-1017
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• 2012

This study examined the clothing wearing comfort of elderly women by electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) analyses. This study utilized 7 elderly individuals aged 65 or more. Two kinds of clothing ensemble (control and prototype) were used as experimental clothing. The control consisted of a general clothing ensemble and the prototype consisted of clothing that added an extra gap. Subjects wore the control or prototype from 9:00 to 21:30 and EEG and ECG signals were measured in the last 30 minutes. The EEG analysis showed that relative band power of a and ${\alpha}$/high ${\beta}$ were higher when they wore the prototype rather than the control. The ECG analysis showed that absolute band power of HF was higher; however, absolute band power of LF and LF/HF was lower when they wore the prototype rather than the control. Subjects felt less stressful and more comfortable when they wore the prototype. The results demonstrate the necessity to develop clothing in consideration of the body changes in elderly women. It is significant that the assessment of wearing comfort was aided by the use of EEG and ECG analysis in the field of clothing and textiles.