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Religious Chanting and Self-Related Brain Regions: A Multi-Modal Neuroimaging Study

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Body modifications, sexual activity, and religious practices.

Mark G Rivardo¹, Colleen M Keelan

¹Department of Psychology, Saint Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650, USA. mark.rivardo@stvincent.edu

Psychological Reports

|June 8, 2010

Summary

Body modifications like tattoos and piercings show significant correlations with sexual activity among college students. However, these body art practices were not linked to religious beliefs or practices in this study.

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Area of Science:

Sociology of religion
Human sexuality studies
Body modification research

Background:

Previous research suggests a link between body modifications (tattoos, piercings) and sexual activity, with some studies indicating interactions with sex.
Prior investigations found weak negative correlations between tattoos and religious beliefs/practices.
The relationship between body modifications, sexual behavior, and religiosity requires further examination.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationships among body modifications (tattoos and piercings), sexual activity, and religious beliefs/practices.
To explore potential sex differences in these relationships.

Main Methods:

Survey conducted on a sample of 236 undergraduate students from a Catholic liberal arts college.
Data collected on the presence and number of tattoos and piercings.
Information gathered on sexual activity (e.g., number of sexual partners, premarital intercourse) and religious beliefs/practices.

Main Results:

A statistically significant correlation was found between the number of tattoos and the number of sexual partners.
Sex-specific differences emerged: men with piercings were more likely to have engaged in premarital intercourse.
Women who had engaged in premarital intercourse reported having more piercings than those who had not.
No statistically significant correlations were observed between body modifications and religious variables.

Conclusions:

Body modifications, particularly tattoos and piercings, are statistically associated with sexual activity indicators in college students.
The findings suggest sex-specific patterns in the association between body modifications and sexual behavior.
This study did not find evidence supporting a link between body modifications and religious beliefs or practices in the sample.