College students and tattoos. Influence of image, identity, family, and friends.

Full Abstract

Tattoos are popular among many groups of people. College students from a large university in the southwestern United States were queried using the 134-item Armstrong Team Tattoo Attitude Survey. Findings documents a progressive increase in tattooing and reflect significant support for tattoos, even from non-tattooed students. Similar and positive demographic characteristics were present in individuals who were both non-tattooed and tattooed. In addition, tattooed people were viewed positively, even among non-tattooed respondents. Friends significantly affected procurement and possession of tattoos, whereas of all family members, the sister was the only significant influence. Overall, friends, identity, and image seem to be the major influences for obtaining tattoos.

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Author information

Author/s: Armstrong, Myrna L (ML); Owen, Donna C (DC); Roberts, Alden E (AE); Koch, Jerome R (JR);

Affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. myrna.armstrong(-atsign-)ttuhsc.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services (J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Oct; vol 40 (issue 10) : pp 20-9

Dates: Created 2002/10/18; Completed 2002/11/14; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12385196, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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