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Correlates of tattoos and reference groups.

Alden E Roberts1, Jerome R Koch, Myrna L Armstrong

  • 1Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Box 41012, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA.

Psychological Reports
|February 20, 2007
PubMed
Summary

College students with tattoos are more likely to have family and friends with tattoos. Social influence from friends regarding tattoos is twice as strong as influence from family members.

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Area of Science:

  • Sociology
  • Social Psychology
  • Cultural Studies

Background:

  • Tattoos are increasingly prevalent across diverse demographics.
  • Understanding the social factors influencing body art adoption is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between an individual's tattoo status and the presence of tattoos within their social network (family and friends).
  • To quantify the relative influence of family versus friends on an individual's decision to get a tattoo.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was administered to 520 college students at a public university in the southwestern United States.
  • Data collected included whether respondents had tattoos and the tattoo status of their family members and friends.
  • Statistical analysis was performed to determine correlations and relative influence.

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Main Results:

  • A significant positive correlation was found between respondents having a tattoo and the presence of tattoos among their family members.
  • A significant positive correlation was also observed between respondents having a tattoo and the presence of tattoos among their friends.
  • The influence of friends on an individual's decision to get a tattoo was approximately double the influence of family.

Conclusions:

  • Social networks, particularly peer groups, play a substantial role in the adoption of tattoos.
  • The findings suggest that social learning and peer influence are key drivers in tattoo acquisition among young adults.