Health knowledge and motives on tattooing: A community‐based cross‐sectional study in Greece

Abstract

Background: Tattooing is becoming an increasingly common trend mainly but not merely among the youth. However, the choice of ink body art is associated with an increase of dermatological complications. Aim:To assess young persons' health knowledge and motives toward tattooing. Methods:The main instrument used was an online structured questionnaire with scaling and dichotomous questions, consisting of three components: (a) the participants' sociodemographic profile, (b) health knowledge assessment, (c) motives toward or against tattooing. Simple univariate techniques and multiple logistic regression were used to data analysis. Two logistic models were developed having as dependent variable whether the respondents have or would like to have a tattoo. The independent variables in the models were sociodemographic characteristics of participants and three variables concerning respondents' health knowledge and motives on tattooing. Results:The study sample amounted to 629 young adults living in Athens, the capital city of Greece. The prevailing age group among tattooed persons was 19-25 years old (69.5%), with females being more likely to be tattooed than males. Among tattooed participants, knowledge in specific health complications appeared high, while in other potential complications was particularly low. The main motives identified were ideology/message and aesthetics/fashion (77% in total). Quite interesting, participants with medium and high health knowledge level showed, respectively 50%, and three times higher probability of having tattoos compared to low level. Only 16.2% of the tattooed participants regarded tattoo as dangerous to health (p < 0.0005). Conclusions:The likelihood of acquiring ink body art is increasing critically among young adults. Even though this tendency is accompanied with adequate levels of knowledge concerning health hazards, systematic health education programs for more informed and safe choices are needed to be implemented, with particular emphasis on young people.

Tattoos

“…[ 9 ] A survey from Greece demonstrated that 77% of all subjects had motives of ideology, message or fashion. [ 21 ] Tiggemann and Golder found that men had higher scores regarding tattoo motivations of ‘to show commitment to a group’. [ 8 ] Weiler et al .…”

Tattoos in Psychodermatology

“…Some "collect" this art and choose to be tattooed by various artists to amass a collection of tattoos on their body, while for others, a tattoo is simply attained for the sake of fashion [39]. A survey from Greece demonstrated that 77% of all subjects had motives of ideology/message and fashion/esthetic [40]. Likewise, it was noted that personal and esthetic preferences were strong motivators, especially for transmasculine persons in a study [41].…”

Knowledge and Attitude Towards Cutaneous Complications of Tattoos and Piercings Among the General Population in Saudi Arabia

“…However, this growing demand has increased the number of unprofessional body art practitioners performing procedures that require more adherence to safe and healthy hygienic standards [ 3 ]. Consequently, the frequency of recorded adverse health hazards after tattooing has increased [ 4 ]. The prevalence of cutaneous complications of tattoos ranges from 2%-43% [ 5 , 1 , 6 ], even though the cutaneous complications are higher than the systemic complications.…”