Behavioral Patterns and Identity Expression in University Students’ Uniform-Wearing: A Quantitative Study

Issarapong Poltanee; Umaporn Boonphetkaew

doi:10.57260/csdj.2026.286170

Authors

Issarapong Poltanee Department of Hospitality and MICE Business, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Umaporn Boonphetkaew Department of Hospitality and MICE Business, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57260/csdj.2026.286170

Keywords:

Uniform wearing behavior, Motivation, Professional culture

Abstract

Despite growing scholarly interest in the sociocultural functions of student uniforms, empirical research on uniform-wearing Behavior in Southeast Asian higher education remains limited, particularly regarding the interplay between digital self-presentation and institutional dress norms. This study investigated the Behavior and motivations behind student uniform wearing at Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus. A quantitative survey was administered to 392 undergraduate students selected through stratified random sampling across nine faculties. Data were analysed using Welch’s One-Way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and Random Forest classification.
Enhancing personal image (F = 12.66, p < .001) and expressing social status (F = 6.24, p = .006) were the primary motivators, whereas institutional regulations and comfort showed no significant effect (p > .05). Academic year was the strongest predictor of wearing frequency (Feature Importance = 0.35), with third-year students exhibiting the highest frequency. Although students from the Faculty of Education constituted a smaller share of the sample (9.18%) than the Faculty of Service Industries (32.65%), their individual mean wearing frequency was the highest among all faculties, reflecting a strong teacher-centric professional culture.
These findings indicate that uniform wearing among university students extends beyond regulatory compliance to encompass identity formation and social expression. The results carry practical implications for developing dress-code policies that balance institutional traditions with students’ evolving needs in the digital era.

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