Psychosocial factors and tattooing in adolescents

Abstract

Objective To study psychosocial factors related to tattooing including reasons influencing decision-making, complication awareness and Perceived barriers to tattoo.

Materials and methods Samples were all the first and second year students, 520 students in Chuntaburi Rajabhut University. Fourteen questionnaires were used and grouped into 3 topics as mentioned in objectives above. Data were statistic analysed with percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-squares.

Results Tattooing population was 19%, mostly were male. The tattooed reasons were fashion, membership, spiritual enhancement, self expression and independency. For the non-tattooed considered about complicated removal and two perceived barrier issues: parental criticism and serious infection such as HIV infection, hepatitis.

Conclusion The related psychosocial factors were tattooed reasons, complication awareness and perceived barrier issues. All finding results should be fruitfully compelled to tattoo-interested teen.