The Research Journal of the Costume Culture (복식문화연구)

The Costume Culture Association (복식문화학회)
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An exploratory study on clothing benefits sought by breast cancer survivors

유방암 수술을 받은 여성의 의복추구혜택에 관한 탐색적 연구

  • Rhee, YoungJu (Dept. of Clothing, Sungshin Women's University) ;
  • Lee, EunOk (Dept. of Clothing, Sungshin Women's University)
  • 이영주 (성신여자대학교 의류학과) ;
  • 이은옥 (성신여자대학교 의류학과)
  • Received : 2014.09.16
  • Accepted : 2014.10.20
  • Published : 2014.10.31
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Abstract

The objective of this study was to take a closer look at the clothing benefits sought by breast cancer survivors in Korea. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted, using the focus group interview. Data was collected from members of online breast cancer forum. 18 participants were breast cancer survivors who had mastectomy or lumpectomy in their 30s~50s. The data was analyzed using content analysis in order to identify significant themes. The analysis indicated that benefits were sought after functional/comfort, health, feminity, and compensation were found. First, breast cancer survivors considered functional/comfort to be most important benefit so as to keep the body comfortable from the weather. Second, participants put the healthy body as the first priority and chose a well-being lifestyle and were likely to wear clothes made in healthy fabric, such as organic, bamboo or charcoal. Also, they preferred to look active by wearing sport brands or outdoorwear brands. Third, after the surgery, they experienced the sense of femininity loss and the sense of crisis as a woman. Single women and married women in early 30s recognized more seriously, and they tried to recover feminity by wearing clothes with feminine details. Forth, breast cancer survivor consumers tended to shop for the psychological compensation. In summary, consumers with breast cancer surgery, unlike general healthy women, did not sought to be economic, fashion, self-expression benefits, rather they sought health, femininity, and compensation benefits. Therefore, it seems necessary to develop proper products and marketing strategy to meet the said consumer's special needs.

Keywords

References

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