Abstract: .........................................................................................................................................vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................1 1.1 Overview and Background............................................................................1 1.2 Problem Statement.....................................................................................3 1.3 Purpose of Study.......................................................................................4 1.4 Definitions of Selected Terms........................................................................4 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERVIEW .........................................................................................6 2.1 Patronage Behavior.....................................................................................6 2.2 Shopping Orientation...................................................................................7 2.3 Apparel Shopping Orientation........................................................................7 2.4 Life Events...............................................................................................9 2.5 Store and Brand Patronage Preferences..............................................................9 2.6 Life Events and Changes in Consumer Behavior..................................................10 2.7 Conceptual Model.....................................................................................11 2.8 Consumer Behavior as Strategies to Cope with Role Transition and Stress...................13 2.9 Research Hypotheses..................................................................................13 CHAPTER 3: METHODLOGY..........................................................................................................15 3.1 Procedure and Sample.................................................................................15 3.1.1 Questionnaire................................................................................15 3.1.2 Pretesting....................................................................................16 3.1.3 Sample and Sampling......................................................................16 3.1.4 Survey Administration.....................................................................16 3.1.5 Measurements...............................................................................17 3.1.6 Measurements in Life Events.............................................................17 3.1.7 Apparel Shopping Orientation Changes.................................................18 3.1.8 Patronage Preferences Changes...........................................................18 3.2 Data Analysis Procedure..............................................................................18 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS.................................................................................21 4.1 Characteristics of the Respondents..................................................................21 4.1.1 Demographic Profile.......................................................................21 4.1.2 Experienced Life Events Profile.........................................................21 4.1.3 Anticipated Life Events Profile...........................................................22 4.1.4 Patronage Preference Changes Profile...................................................23 4.2 Measurement Assessment............................................................................23 4.2.1 Factor Analysis of Apparel Shopping Orientation..........................................................23 iv 4.3 Hypotheses Testing....................................................................................26 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS................30 5.1 Summary and Conclusion.............................................................................30 5.2 Implications.............................................................................................32 5.2.1 Theoretical Implications...................................................................32 5.2.2 Practical Implications......................................................................33 5.3 Limitations..............................................................................................34 5.4 Recommendations for Future Research.............................................................34 REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................36 APPENDIX A: IRB APPROVAL .......................................................................................................39 APPENDIX B: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE ..................................................................................40 VITA.......................................................................................................................................................47