Impact of appearance self-schema on socioeconomic stratification among female undergraduates in Kerala, India

Abstract

The current study investigates the relationship between appearance management behaviors and socioeconomic status among female college students across Kerala, India. Appearance management, as conceptualized through the Appearance Schemas Inventory (ASI), captures the internalization of appearance-related beliefs and the behavioral regulation around self-presentation. A total of 1,775 female undergraduate students from the southern, central, and northern regions of Kerala were surveyed. Socioeconomic status was assessed using the Kuppuswamy SES Scale (1976), which incorporates parental education, occupation, and income. Results indicate regional and socioeconomic variation in appearance management practices, with statistically significant differences observed across SES classes. The findings highlight the influence of sociocultural and economic factors on body image concerns and appearance-regulating behavior among young women.