Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: An exploratory study about the influence celebrities have on young adults, with regards to fashion, was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods.Participants were recruited from Ohio University courses, and a total of 481 usable surveys were collected, with 120 male participants and 361 female participants.The subjects in this study confirmed, through survey responses, that celebrities set appearance standards through their highly visible lives that are portrayed in the media.It was evident that, because the general population is not exposed to celebrities face to face, media outlets allow the celebrities to become highly visible.Actors and musicians were the two categories most often listed by subjects as influential celebrities.Two themes emerged that support the notion of celebrity influence and the manner to which their influence occurs: (a) celebrities are viewed as role models and (b) celebrity lives are desirable and envied because they are associated with wealth, power, and fame.In fact young adults view celebrities as role models to the extent that they are influenced not only with fashion choices, but also in the adoption of non-fashion items such as, food, cars, electronics, drugs, and alcohol.Additionally celebrity behaviors, particularly language, emerged as areas of influences for college men and women in this sample.
Author: Aaron Sturgill
Institution: Ohio University
Language: English
Subfield: Marketing
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2533773147