Who Researched:
Sean T. Carroll, Robert H. Riffenburgh, Timothy A. Roberts, Elizabeth B. Myhre
When Researched:
Received for publication July 9, 2001
Accepted January 8, 2002
Published June 1, 2002
Research Methods Used:
-Survey- 58 questions based on the 1997 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey. These surveys were distributed to all adolescent beneficiaries that came to the Adolescent Clinic.
The survey included questions regarding eating behavior, violence, drug abuse, sexual behavior, suicide, tattoos and body piercings.
What Was Found:
Adolescents with tattoos and body piercings were found to be more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors (disordered eating behavior, gateway drug use, hard drug use, sexual activity and suicide) than those without either.
Specifically:
–Males having tattoos and females having body piercings tended to be more violent.
–Gateway drug use was associated with both tattoos and body piercings of both sexes.
–Hard drug use was associated with the number of body piercings.
–Suicide was associated with both sexes getting tattoos and body piercings at a younger age; however, it was more strongly associated with females having tattoos.
–Overall tattoos and body piercings were more common among females than males.
Body modifications can be an indication of risk-taking behaviors in adolescents. As seen above, risk-taking behaviors (as defined by the CDC) include eating disorders, gateway drug use, hard drug use, sexual activity, violence and suicide. If an adolescent is seen to have tattoos and body piercings at a young age, preventative measures (e.g. counseling) can be taken to decrease the chance of further risk-taking behaviors.