Uniforms for Collegiate Female Golfers: Cause for Dissatisfaction and Role Conflict?

Abstract

Female collegiate athletes (N = 71 ) from Big Ten Conference golf teams were surveyed about their satisfaction with team uniforms and the factors influencing satisfaction. Players rated their satisfaction with team uniforms as neutral. Both quantitative and qualitative responses indicated positive relationships between having well-fitting, aesthetically attractive uniforms and uniform satisfaction. Men's clothing, worn by a majority of the female golfers, was often bulky and ill-fitting, associated with greater uniform dissatisfaction. Although wearing a recognizable apparel brand name product gave players satisfaction, the actual product produced by these manufacturers did not. Contrary to our hypothesis, role conflict experienced by the athlete did not significantly affect uniform satisfaction. Implications for sport clothing manufacturers are discussed.