Perceived somatotype, body-cathexis, and attitudes toward clothing among college females.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived somatotype and body-cathexis for female subjects and to determine the perceived ideal somatotype of college females. The relationship between perceived somatotype and attitudes toward fashion and clothing use was also examined. 91 female undergraduates were administered the Perceived Somatotype Scale, the Body-cathexis Scale, and several measures of fashion and clothing interest and use. Analysis of variance indicated that the ectomorphic build was perceived as the ideal somatotype for college females. As subjects' self-perceived somatotype deviated from the ideal and moved toward the mesomorphic and endomorphic, body-cathexis scores decreased. Contrary to stereotypic assumptions, perceived somatotype was unrelated to the fashion and clothing measures.