Clothes make the man—and they might also reflect his mind. A recent study of London teens reveals that choice of clothing style may affect mental health.

Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, queried Bangladeshi adolescents attending London schools about their fashion preferences and, two years later, assessed their mental health. The scientist reported in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in May that the girls who wore traditional Bangladeshi clothing were less likely to suffer later from psychological problems, such as depression, than were those who wore Western-style garments. “We were expecting to find that people who were able to mix with new cultural groups would be better off,” says Kamaldeep Bhui, the lead researcher. “I was really surprised to find that traditional identity expressed through clothing was protective.”

The trend was reversed, however, in boys; those who preferred integrated clothing had better mental well-being. Bhui believes this gender difference may result from the greater pressure that most societies put on women to conform to traditional cultural practices. And the girls who do wear Bangladeshi clothes could benefit in a number of ways. The ex­pression of identity could itself be psycho­logically beneficial. Additionally, traditional clothing could keep these girls in a more insular, protective environment than that of more assimilated adolescents. Bangladeshi boys, on the other hand, typically have more freedom to move about the world and, as adults, are expected to enter an integrated workforce, Bhui says.

Note: This article was originally printed with the title, "Dressed for Distress".

This article was originally published with the title Dressed for Distress.

4 Comments

1. 1. MattOlsend 01:08 PM 10/10/08

   Perhaps the cause effect relationship works in the opposite direction.
   Pre-existing mental health may influence your choice of clothing.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. jrabine 03:06 PM 10/10/08

   I'm thinking that Western-style clothing for girls, and the pressure to look "sexy" in them, would be bad for the mental health of native British as well as Bangladeshi girls. (Not to mention all girls everywhere -- isn't depression more common in girls?)

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. LN271 03:50 PM 10/10/08

   It seems appropriate that Bhui points out the different expectations. It seems like those who most conform to the source of the most pressure report being happier. It could be that the "less depressed" dress reflects a lack of (typical) youthful distrust of society/norms, but a willingness to question culture and expectations is often a sign of creativity and is generally healthy. Perhaps those who outwardly are trying to live up to expectations with dress are also more likely to want to convince others and themselves of their satisfaction.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. abc123 05:35 PM 10/10/08

   I think those who do not conform to what is considered "normal" in a certain group or at a certain period in time are considered outsiders (alienated) and as such are targets for verbal abuse e.g. ridicule. I would assume being constant targets of verbal abuse to be detrimental for any ones mental health. Humans are social creatures after all. As always it is easier to try and fit in with everyone else than doing something which alienates you regardless of whether the views you are trying to fit in with are right or wrong. Let's not forget that the indicator of ideal mental health used is probably always an individual of the group with a majority, someone who has mainstream views. Someone who thinks like a normal person (like everyone else). Galileo was called a lunatic during his time with his idea that the earth may not be the center of the solar system.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this