Tattoos have become increasingly mainstream in recent decades, with estimates suggesting up to 40% of adults in the US now have at least one tattoo.
However, tattoos have historically been associated with risky behaviors and negative health outcomes.
New research examines whether these associations still hold true as tattoos gain broader cultural acceptance.
Key facts:
- Study surveyed over 2000 US adults about their tattoos, health status, mental health diagnoses, and risky behaviors like smoking, incarceration history and sexual partners.
- No significant links found between tattoos and overall self-reported physical health status.
- Those with tattoos more likely to report mental health diagnosis, trouble sleeping, smoking, incarceration history and more sexual partners.
- Strongest associations for those with multiple, offensive or highly visible tattoos.
Source: Int J Dermatol.
Studying the Link Between Tattoos & Risky Behavior
Background
Tattoos have become much more socially acceptable in recent years, now common even among groups not traditionally associated with tattooing like women, college graduates and professionals.
However, tattoos have historically been linked to risky behaviors and poorer health outcomes.
This new research aimed to examine whether these negative associations still hold true given tattoos’ growing mainstream acceptance.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Miami and the University of Western Australia.
Data Collection
The researchers surveyed over 2000 US adults aged 18-65 using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk online platform in July 2016.
The survey collected data on:
- Tattoo status – whether respondents had any tattoos, number of tattoos, visibility of tattoos, offensive nature of tattoos
- Health outcomes – self-reported overall health, mental health diagnoses, sleep problems
- Risky behaviors – smoking, incarceration history, number of sexual partners in past year
- Demographics – age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, income
Tattoos & Health Outcomes: Psychiatric Problems
The study found no significant association between having tattoos and overall self-reported physical health status.
This aligns with limited previous research suggesting tattoos are not linked to perceptions of health.
However, those with tattoos were significantly more likely to report having received a diagnosis for a mental health condition.
Compared to non-tattooed respondents, those with any tattoo were 9.4% more likely to report a mental health diagnosis.
The likelihood increased with number of tattoos.
Those with tattoos were also more likely to report trouble sleeping, with an 8.1% higher likelihood for those with any tattoo versus no tattoo.
Again, the association was stronger for those with multiple tattoos.
Tattoos & Risky Behaviors: Links Discovered
The study found significant positive associations between having tattoos and several risky behaviors:
Smoking – Those with any tattoo were 13.9% more likely to be current smokers. The likelihood of smoking was highest for those with 4+ tattoos.
Crime history – Respondents with tattoos were 11.9% more likely to report having been jailed or in prison compared to non-tattooed adults. The association was strongest for those with offensive tattoos.
Sexual partners – People with tattoos reported a higher number of sexual partners in the past year. Having any tattoo was associated with 0.3 more partners on average. The link was strongest for those with 3 tattoos.
Overall, risky behaviors increased with number of tattoos, visibility of tattoos and offensive tattoo content.
Tattooed Individuals: More Likely to Engage in Risky Behaviors
This study provides new evidence on associations between tattoos, health and behaviors using recent data, unlike most prior research which is outdated given tattooing’s growth.
The findings suggest some lingering negative associations exist between tattooing and mental health issues, sleep problems and risky behaviors like smoking, incarceration and sexual partners.
However, no links were found with overall physical health status, contrasting with historical stereotypes of tattooed individuals as unhealthy.
The researchers highlight that healthcare providers should be aware tattoos can serve as markers for mental health issues and risky behaviors.
They note several limitations including lack of data on time ordering between tattoos, health issues and risky behaviors.
The data may also not generalize beyond the U.S. context.
Overall, the study indicates views on tattooing should be nuanced – while risks may remain, old stereotypes do not necessarily hold true.
As cultural acceptance continues rising, ongoing research is needed to examine modern associations with health and behavior.
References
- Study: Are tattoos associated with negative health-related outcomes and risky behaviors?
- Authors: Karoline Mortensen et al. (2019)
