S. Houghton et al., CHILDRENS AND ADOLESCENTS AWARENESS OF THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL-HEALTHRISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TATTOOING - A FOCUS GROUP-STUDY, Adolescence, 30(120), 1995, pp. 971-988
This article explores children's and adolescents' awareness of the phy
sical and mental health risks associated with the increasing practice
of tattooing. Twelve focus group discussions on attitudes toward tatto
os and beliefs about normative behavior, health beliefs, awareness of
the long-term consequences of tattooing, and stigmatization were condu
cted with 80 volunteers, six to 17 years of age. The videotaped discus
sions revealed that participants' were knowledgeable about tattoos and
the process, and were aware that viral transmission and physical disf
igurement were possible results. Generally, attitudes toward tattoos w
ere negative, with almost all participants associating them with illic
it type activities. However, a more favorable attitude toward small ta
ttoos was discernible among females during early adolescence. Particip
ants suggested that because of the location of tattoos, they might be
embarrassing in some instances, and that because of their permanency,
young people might regret having them later in life. Some participants
revealed they had removed tattoos using crude implements. These data
suggest an urgent need for research on prevention of unsafe use of tat
tooing and piercing implements.