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Age Differences in Emotional Attitudes Toward Clothing // Pedagogical Review. 2025. Issue 5 (63). P. 164-178

The study aims to examine the semantic stimuli of clothing among women of different age groups through the lenses of social, utilitarian, and personal aspects; to confirm the universality of these meanings; and to identify age-related features in emotional responses to clothing. The relevance of this research lies in understanding the role of clothing in shaping female identity and emotional states across various stages of adult life, which is significant for psychological practice and therapy. The methodology involved a quantitative survey of 326 women aged 18 to 71 using a structured questionnaire designed to identify meanings attributed to clothing and emotional reactions toward it. The results were compared with data from a pilot study involving 36 participants. The study confirmed the universality of clothing meanings across the three aspects for women of all age groups. It was found that with age, women’s positive emotional responses to clothing increase while negative responses decrease, particularly in the personal domain. Special attention was given to the 40–49 age group, which exhibited a heightened focus on sexuality and self-expression through clothing, reflecting the midlife crisis. The practical significance of the research lies in applying these findings to psychological support for women, aiming to enhance self-esteem and harmonize emotional well-being through conscious attitudes toward clothing and its symbolism.

Keywords: clothing, identity, personal meaning, emotional response, age-related characteristics