Effects of Button Shape on the Buttoning and Unbuttoning of Clothes by the Elderly

Abstract

The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of button shape on the buttoning and unbuttoning of clothes by the elderly. Study participants were 22 elderly females and 19 young adult females. Six types of buttons, i.e., （flat and rimmed buttons）×（thicknesses of 2, 3 and 4 mm）, were sewn on clothes. Participants wore these clothes and buttoned and unbuttoned them in trials. The time taken to button and unbutton clothing was measured and subjective sensory perceptions were assessed during these trials. The obtained data ware analyzed using paired three-way analysis of variance （ANOVA）. The factors for that analysis were age group, the type of button, and button thickness. Results revealed the following: 1）the elderly took longer to button and unbutton clothing than young adults did, and that difference was primarily due to differences in hand and finger dexterity, 2）the button thickness affected the time both the elderly and young adults took to button and unbutton clothing while the type of button affected the time the elderly took to unbutton clothing, and 3）the type of button and its thickness affected subjective sensory perceptions, but perceptions of the elderly were affected less than those of young adults.