{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T18:08:04Z","timestamp":1788890884839,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788825600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Clothing color can affect the psychological aspects in female patients and survivors of breast cancer; however, little is known regarding their preferences and reasons for choosing specific clothing color. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing their clothing color choices.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Method<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      This qualitative study was conducted through face-to-face interviews. Fourteen adult female patients and survivors of breast cancer were recruited at a university hospital in Korea. An art therapist requested participants to indicate their usual choice of clothing colors and reasons. Participants were encouraged to talk about memories related to clothing colors in the past and present. Participants were asked if there were any changes in clothing colors after the diagnosis of breast cancer. Preferences and reasons regarding clothing colors were explored during one-hour interview. The interviews were audiotaped and analyzed using the Korean Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS), Blue Bird 2.0 (\n                      <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" ext-link-type=\"uri\" xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.thebluebird.kr\" xlink:type=\"simple\">www.thebluebird.kr<\/jats:ext-link>\n                      ). The researchers crosschecked thematic coding results using the software.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>All 14 patients and survivors had memorable experiences regarding their favorite clothing colors. Thematic coding identified four key themes: (1) social interactions and social image (39.5% of key sentences stated), (2) enhanced self-image and concealment of body shape (20.9%), (3) positive feelings (18.6%), and (4) changes in color preference after breast cancer diagnosis (14%).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>All female patients and survivors of breast cancer had preferences and good memories for clothing color. In most participants, these colors supported social interaction, self-image, and positive feelings. It is needed to investigate if intervention through clothing colors would support quality of life.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0357499","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T17:30:52Z","timestamp":1788888652000},"page":"e0357499","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Preferences and reasons for clothing colors in women patients and survivors of breast cancer in Korea"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8834-2395","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Seon-Hye","family":"Won","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital","place":["Goyang, Republic of Korea"],"department":["Department of Family Medicine"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yun-A.","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine","place":["Daegu, Republic of Korea"],"department":["Department of Family Medicine"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6145-1150","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Sang-Yeon","family":"Suh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital","place":["Goyang, Republic of Korea"],"department":["Department of Family Medicine"]},{"name":"Dongguk University Medical School","place":["Seoul, Republic of Korea"],"department":["Department of Medicine"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ji Hyun","family":"Im","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital School, Korea University Guro Hospital","place":["Seoul, Republic of Korea"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Erika","family":"Nakanishi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine","place":["Sendai, Japan"],"department":["Department of Palliative Nursing"]},{"name":"Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke\u2019s International University","place":["Tokyo, Japan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tae Seon","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Severance Hospital & Yonsei University College of Medicine","place":["Seoul, Republic of Korea"],"department":["Department of Neurosurgery"]},{"name":"Center for Medical Education, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University","place":["Nagoya, Japan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yoonjoo","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Nursing, Dongguk University WISE","place":["Gyeongju, Republic of Korea"],"department":["Department of Nursing"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hee Jung","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kyungpook National University Hospital","place":["Daegu, Republic of Korea"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Hui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center","place":["Houston, Texas, United States of America"],"department":["Department of Palliative Care"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Beom Seok","family":"Kwak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital","place":["Goyang, Republic of Korea"],"department":["Department of surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]]},"reference":[{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0357499.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.4048\/jbc.2024.0213","article-title":"Breast cancer statistics in Korea, 2021","volume":"27","author":"CD Cha","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Breast Cancer"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0357499.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.4143\/crt.2024.253","article-title":"Cancer statistics in Korea: incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2021","volume":"56","author":"EH Park","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cancer Research and Treatment"},{"issue":"15","key":"pone.0357499.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3549","DOI":"10.1002\/cncr.25251","article-title":"A study of body image in long-term breast cancer survivors","volume":"116","author":"CA Falk Dahl","year":"2010","journal-title":"Cancer"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0357499.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"533","DOI":"10.1037\/a0021428","article-title":"Altered sexuality and body image after gynecological cancer treatment: how can psychologists help?","volume":"41","author":"RC Sacerdoti","year":"2010","journal-title":"Prof Psychol Res Pr"},{"issue":"7493","key":"pone.0357499.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"702","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.38343.670868.D3","article-title":"Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: five year observational cohort study","volume":"330","author":"C Burgess","year":"2005","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0357499.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1186\/s13058-016-0700-x","article-title":"Breast cancer and social environment: getting by with a little help from our friends","volume":"18","author":"A Hinzey","year":"2016","journal-title":"Breast Cancer Res"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"722211","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.722211","article-title":"The impact of unsupportive social support on the injured self in breast cancer patients","volume":"12","author":"V Sebri","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0357499.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"345","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-022-03985-1","article-title":"Hope and depression: the mediating role of social support and spiritual coping in advanced cancer patients","volume":"22","author":"Y Tao","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2319","DOI":"10.2147\/CMAR.S278087","article-title":"Improving Social support to increase QoL in lung cancer patients","volume":"13","author":"A Hofman","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cancer Manag Res"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0357499.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"913","DOI":"10.1177\/0038038501035004007","article-title":"Look good, feel better: beauty therapy as emotional labour","volume":"35","author":"U Sharma","year":"2001","journal-title":"Sociology"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1111\/ecc.12290","article-title":"Psychological effects of a cosmetic education programme in patients with breast cancer: cosmetic education programme for patients with breast cancer","volume":"24","author":"H Park","year":"2015","journal-title":"European Journal of Cancer Care"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104167","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jretconser.2024.104167","article-title":"I bought it and I feel good! An examination of fit factors and self-evaluation related to confident clothing decisions and psychological well-being","volume":"84","author":"MJ Hossain","year":"2025","journal-title":"Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-psych-010213-115035","article-title":"Color psychology: effects of perceiving color on psychological functioning in humans","volume":"65","author":"AJ Elliot","year":"2014","journal-title":"Annu Rev Psychol"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0357499.ref014","first-page":"2321","article-title":"Acute effect of orange chromatic environment on perceived health status, pain, and vital signs during chemotherapy treatment","volume":"28","author":"P G\u00f3mez-Vela","year":"2020","journal-title":"Support Care Cancer"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0357499.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1179","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2018.03.055","article-title":"Hair disorders in patients with cancer","volume":"80","author":"A Freites-Martinez","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"issue":"19","key":"pone.0357499.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2621","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare11192621","article-title":"Dermatological side effects of cancer treatment: psychosocial implications-a systematic review of the literature","volume":"11","author":"V Almeida","year":"2023","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel)"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0357499.ref017","first-page":"142","article-title":"Interaction with a depressed patient who has poor emotional expression: discussion applying color psychology","volume":"60","author":"T Hanami","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref018","first-page":"1","article-title":"Analyses of color imaging effects on psychosomatic state using an image selection system","volume":"6","author":"R Ishiyama","year":"2010","journal-title":"Kyoto University Research Information Repository"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18041640","article-title":"Enhancing self-esteem and body image of breast cancer women through interventions: a systematic review","volume":"18","author":"L Morales-S\u00e1nchez","year":"2021","journal-title":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"611954","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.611954","article-title":"The efficacy of psychological intervention on body image in breast cancer patients and survivors: a systematic-review and meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"V Sebri","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref021","unstructured":"Clovanote: NAVER Corporation. https:\/\/clovanote.naver.com. Accessed 2026 March 29."},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref022","unstructured":"The Korean Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software, Blue Bird 2.0. http:\/\/thebluebird.kr\/ht_ml\/main\/. Accessed 2026 March 2."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0357499.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s40691-014-0020-7","article-title":"Dress, body and self: research in the social psychology of dress","volume":"1","author":"K Johnson","year":"2014","journal-title":"Fashion and Textiles"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0357499.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bodyim.2012.02.003","article-title":"Clothing choices, weight, and trait self-objectification","volume":"9","author":"M Tiggemann","year":"2012","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0357499.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.7233\/ijcf.2020.20.2.001","article-title":"Understanding the Fashion Therapy (FT) Experience through the Cognitive Behavioral Perspective on Body Image","volume":"20","author":"SE Lee","year":"2020","journal-title":"KSC"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0357499.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.23923\/j.rips.2017.08.007","article-title":"Self-concept and emotional well-being in patients with breast cancer","volume":"8","author":"S Pintado","year":"2017","journal-title":"Rev iberoam psicol salud"},{"issue":"12","key":"pone.0357499.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1614","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732315591146","article-title":"Responding to scars after breast surgery","volume":"26","author":"J Slatman","year":"2016","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0357499.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"406","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejon.2011.09.003","article-title":"Life experiences of women with breast cancer in south western Turkey: a qualitative study","volume":"16","author":"F Cebeci","year":"2012","journal-title":"Eur J Oncol Nurs"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0357499.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1002\/pon.1245","article-title":"Chemotherapy-induced alopecia and effects on quality of life among women with breast cancer: a literature review","volume":"17","author":"J Lemieux","year":"2008","journal-title":"Psychooncology"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0357499.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1137","DOI":"10.17219\/acem\/103626","article-title":"Negative body image in breast cancer patients","volume":"28","author":"A Ko\u0142odziejczyk","year":"2019","journal-title":"Adv Clin Exp Med"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2018.05.004","article-title":"The relationship of fatigue in breast cancer survivors with quality of life and factors to address in psychological interventions: A systematic review","volume":"63","author":"HJG Abrahams","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clin Psychol Rev"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0357499.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.4025\/actascihealthsci.v39i1.31833","article-title":"Changes in social function and body image in women diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy","volume":"39","author":"SN Garcia","year":"2017","journal-title":"Acta Sci Health Sci"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2016.03.023","article-title":"Influence of neighborhood-level factors on social support in early-stage breast cancer patients and controls","volume":"156","author":"T Thompson","year":"2016","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0357499.ref034","first-page":"1661","article-title":"Assessment of depression and anxiety in breast cancer patients: prevalence and associated factors","volume":"19","author":"K Tsaras","year":"2018","journal-title":"Asian Pac J Cancer Prev"},{"issue":"15","key":"pone.0357499.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9264","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19159264","article-title":"Early diagnosis of melanoma and breast cancer in women: influence of body image perception","volume":"19","author":"J Ranieri","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"issue":"20","key":"pone.0357499.ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8607","DOI":"10.7314\/APJCP.2014.15.20.8607","article-title":"Association between socioeconomic status and altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life among breast cancer patients","volume":"15","author":"O Chang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Asian Pac J Cancer Prev"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref037","unstructured":"Habikawa M, Tachikawa T. Effectiveness of color cube therapy on mental health support for hospital staff. In: Japanese Journal of Clinical Research on Death and Dying, 2010. 356."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0357499.ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.3349\/ymj.2013.54.1.15","article-title":"Effects of art therapy using color on purpose in life in patients with stroke and their caregivers","volume":"54","author":"MK Kim","year":"2013","journal-title":"Yonsei Med J"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0357499.ref039","first-page":"71","article-title":"Status of alternative therapies in our palliative care unit","volume":"1349","author":"R Sugie","year":"2009","journal-title":"The journal of Otsu Municipal Hospital"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0357499.ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1032","DOI":"10.1002\/pon.1321","article-title":"Assessing the effect of beauty treatments on psychological distress, body image, and coping: a longitudinal study of patients undergoing surgical procedures for breast cancer","volume":"17","author":"B Quintard","year":"2008","journal-title":"Psychooncology"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0357499.ref041","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1520-6378(199602)21:1<35::AID-COL4>3.0.CO;2-6","article-title":"Comparative studies on color preference in Japan and other Asian regions, with special emphasis on the preference for white","volume":"21","author":"M Saito","year":"1996","journal-title":"Color Res Appl"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0357499.ref042","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1177\/09213740221117811","article-title":"The white-clad people: The white hanbok and Korean nationalism","volume":"34","author":"Y Lee","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cultural Dynamics"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref043","unstructured":"Academy of Korean Studies. Taegukgi. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Seongnam: Academy of Korean Studies. Accessed 2023 October 1. https:\/\/encykorea.aks.ac.kr\/Article\/E0058892"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0357499.ref044","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"224","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-295X.98.2.224","article-title":"Culture and the self: implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation","volume":"98","author":"HR Markus","year":"1991","journal-title":"Psychological Review"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0357499.ref045","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"875","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-006X.68.5.875","article-title":"Emotionally expressive coping predicts psychological and physical adjustment to breast cancer","volume":"68","author":"AL Stanton","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Consult Clin Psychol"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0357499.ref046","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"918","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jesp.2012.02.008","article-title":"Enclothed cognition","volume":"48","author":"H Adam","year":"2012","journal-title":"Journal of Experimental Social Psychology"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref047","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjspcare-2020-002632","article-title":"Physical appearance and well-being in adults with incurable cancer: a thematic analysis","volume":"13","author":"P Tollow","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Support Palliat Care"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0357499.ref048","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1245","DOI":"10.1177\/0956797620948810","article-title":"Universal patterns in color-emotion associations are further shaped by linguistic and geographic proximity","volume":"31","author":"D Jonauskaite","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychol Sci"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0357499.ref049","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1177\/002202217300400201","article-title":"A cross-cultural study of the affective meanings of color","volume":"4","author":"FM Adams","year":"1973","journal-title":"Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology"},{"key":"pone.0357499.ref050","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103153","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eclinm.2025.103153","article-title":"Prognostic value of baseline EORTC QLQ-C30 scores for overall survival across 46 clinical trials covering 17 cancer types: a validation study","volume":"82","author":"L Lim","year":"2025","journal-title":"EClinicalMedicine"}],"container-title":["PLOS One"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0357499","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T17:30:59Z","timestamp":1788888659000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0357499"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Cho Lee","family":"Wong","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"The Chinese University of Hong Kong","place":["HONG KONG"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]]},"references-count":50,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0357499","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]]}}}