APPEARANCE IN THE STRUCTURE OF VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT OR SATISFIED WITH IT

Abstract

The paper considers attractive appearance as a value in the structure of value orientations of young people who are either concerned about their appearance or satisfied with it. It contains an overview of research on the subject. The author points out that, despite the growing interest in the problem of young people’s concern about their appearance, there is a lack of empirical studies that see appearance as a significant value for the young. The paper provides an analysis of studies that apply a value approach, considering an attractive appearance as a predictor of success in various spheres of life, which is especially important at the stage of growing up, when negative assessment of one’s appearance by others can provoke heavy feelings and disadaptation. It presents the results of a research aimed at the analysis of the structure of value orientations, including the value of attractive appearance among young people. The tested hypothesis assumed that the structure of value orientations may vary and contain a value of an attractive appearance when studied in young people who are concerned about their appearance or satisfied with it. The results showed a significant correlation between the value of an attractive appearance and the indicators of the students’ concern about it. Significant differences were found in the structure of value orientations of young people concerned about their appearance and those satisfied with it.