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The medium, not the message. How tattoos correlate with early mortality
1From Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, IA. hjcmd@earthlink.net.
American Journal of Clinical Pathology
|June 14, 2014
Summary
Tattoos are associated with earlier death, with negative messages potentially indicating a predisposition to violent outcomes. However, any tattoo presence is a stronger indicator of risk than its specific message.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Dermatology
- Sociology
Background:
- Tattoos are documented during autopsy external examinations.
- The potential link between tattoo messages and fatal outcomes requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if negative tattoo messages correlate with specific fatal outcomes.
- To compare mortality rates between tattooed and non-tattooed individuals.
Main Methods:
- Classification of tattooed and non-tattooed individuals by demography and forensics.
- Review of tattoos with negative or ominous messages.
- Statistical comparison of outcomes between groups.
Main Results:
- Tattooed individuals died significantly earlier (mean age 39) than non-tattooed individuals (mean age 53).
- Negative tattoo messages were associated with non-natural deaths, but any tattoo presence was a more significant factor.
- The presence of any tattoo, regardless of message content, was a significant predictor of outcome.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with tattoos tend to have a younger age of death compared to those without.
- A potential link exists between tattoos, risk-taking behaviors (e.g., substance use), and mortality.
- While negative tattoos may suggest a predisposition to violent death, the mere presence of a tattoo is a more dominant risk indicator.
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