Self-esteem as related to dimensions of apparel in occupational, social, and leisure situations has been measured with the elderly and college students, but not with adolescents. Theorists recognize the role of clothing as a communicator of information in social interaction and as an aid in the establishment of self-identity. Clothing and appearance are important to the development of self-esteem among adolescents. This study sought to determine the relationship between the importance of clothing and self-esteem in social, school, and leisure situations among adolescents in a metropolitan city (500,000 SMSA) to elucidate the development of self through personal appearance. Seventh- and eighth-grade female students responded to a self-administered questionnaire composed of Newton\u27s Clothing Comfort Dimensions, Importance by Situation (1984) and the Karmos Sliding Person Test of Self-Esteem (1977). Correlations were used to analyze relationships between ratings of the importance of clothing and self-esteem. ANOVA was used to analyze differences between ratings of the importance of clothing and self-esteem by selected demographics. Design consistency was evaluated through split-half t-tests. Decisions were made using p (LESSTHEQ) 0.05. Statistically significant positive relationships were found between the importance of clothing and self-esteem scores in leisure situations. No significant relationships existed between the importance of clothing and social or school situations. Scores for the importance of clothing and self-esteem were combined into a total score, and contrasts between nominal groups on the total score were computed. No significant differences were found in the nominal groups of parents\u27 occupational status and student\u27s activity level. A relationship was found between the importance of clothing and self-esteem in leisure situations. As self-esteem decreased, clothing became less important in leisure situations; however no relationships were found in social or school situations. Clothing was found to be unimportant for females with low self-esteem; however, for students with high self-esteem, clothing was very important. More attention to influential self-esteem builders is needed to help adolescents, parents, and society find specific methods to build constructive behaviors
