Teenage Trends: Clothing Poverty & Body Image in Youth

Millions of teenagers in the U.K. worry about their body image. A 2019 survey from the Mental Health Foundation [1] found that:

• 31% of teenagers felt ashamed in relation to their body image 

• 40% said social media had caused them worry about their body image 

• 35% had stopped eating due to body image concerns 

• 35% worry about their body image every day 

  
  

The International Journal of Scientific Development and Research’s (IJSDR) 2025 paper ‘Clothing Choices and Self-Image Among Adolescents’ [2] identifies the key role that clothing plays for teenagers “as a tool for expressing personality, gaining social acceptance, and navigating complex emotional landscapes.” 

Using the IJSDR’s paper, this article will explore the importance of clothing in the development of teenagers and the resulting consequences for teenagers experiencing clothing poverty. 

Social Media 

Teenage fashion and social media feel inextricably linked. The IJSDR describes social media as a ‘style mirror’, where platforms such as Instagram or TikTok “act as virtual runways, where style, popularity, and appearance are constantly being judged.” 

Social media structures – through likes, comments and shares – can lead teenagers to try to quantify their body image and wardrobe. The Recovery Centre (TRC) emphasises the addictive ‘game’ of social media numbers, whereby “teens can become mentally dependent on the validation that likes and follows provides.” [3] 

Furthermore, social media will often result in unrealistic beauty standards, owing to the use of photo editing tools. HealthyChildren.org reports that “more than 70% of social media users refuse to post pictures online before photoshopping them.” [4] Viewing so many photo-edited images can push teenagers towards dangerous habits, such as intensive exercise or even eating disorders, in pursuit of an unrealistic body image which they feel is normal. 

It is important to recognise the positive role that social media can play in offering a space for creativity and self-expression. However, social media content must always be viewed critically and in recognition of the algorithm ‘bubbles’ they create. 

Gender & Cultural Issues 

The IJSDR argues that boys and girls interpret clothing differently, whereby “girls tend to associate fashion with self-worth and emotional expression, while boys may focus on status and utility.” They go on to emphasise the “higher societal scrutiny” that girls are subjected to, and the immense pressure that comes with this. 

Female fashion is disproportionately subject to cultural expectations, “more heavily policed” by parents and tradition. A study by Queen Mary University of London previously found that Bangladeshi girls who wore traditional clothing “were significantly less likely to have mental health problems than those whose style of dress was a mix of traditional and white British styles.” [5]

The pressures of cultural conformity can be a significant source of anxiety for teenagers. Having inadequate access to traditional clothes can affect anyone experiencing clothing poverty, due to the risk of stigma and isolation. For more information, see our article Clothing, Identity, and Belonging: What Is Lost in Clothing Poverty? 

Boys may also feel considerable pressure “to build muscular bodies, wear expensive sneakers, or emulate celebrity fashion trends.” Non-binary or gender-nonconforming teenagers also face challenges, since “society may not readily accept their fashion choices.” [2]

These gendered and cultural issues again contribute to the immense pressure that teenagers face in relation to their body image and fashion choices. For teenagers with inadequate access to clothing, the pressure will only mount. 

Fast Fashion 

The IJSDR makes explicit the impact of fast fashion on teenagers. They describe a “commercial trap for adolescents,” whereby “the desire to stay ‘on trend’ often results in impulsive shopping, brand obsession, and financial strain – especially on families with limited means.” 

The inferiority which teenagers may feel, by not having access to the latest or most expensive clothing styles, is a key consequence of fast fashion’s materialistic culture. It causes, not only feelings of inadequacy in youth, but the “wasteful habits” that contribute directly to clothing poverty. [2] 

Teenagers & Clothing Poverty 

The pressure experienced by teenagers in relation to their body image and fashion choices is proof that the mental impact of clothing poverty is as severe as its financial or practical consequences. Teenagers in general face pressure – but for teenagers facing clothing poverty, the situation can feel all the more dire. 

The IJSDR concludes that “schools, NGOs, and policymakers should advocate for and promote clothing options that are affordable, inclusive, and culturally respectful.” They also emphasise the need for these organisations to raise awareness about sustainable fashion, thereby “reducing the obsession with brand culture [and] protecting adolescents from financial and psychological pressure.” 

In the fight against clothing poverty, special attention must always be given to underprivileged teenagers and youth. Supporting teenagers with their wardrobe can provide not only a better quality of life, but the confidence needed to pursue it. 

References

1. Mental Health Foundation (2019). Millions of teenagers worry about body image. 

2. IJSDR (2025). ‘Clothing Choices and Self-Image Among Adolescents.’ 

3. TRC (2025). The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health. 

4. HealthyChildren.org (2025). Social Media, Body Image & Self Esteem: What’s the Connection? 

5. BBC (2008). Ethnic clothes mental health link.