I recently read a study about people's opinions about their tattoos and I thought I would share it. The study was done in New Orleans in the French Quarter. The researchers surveyed adults (501) who had at least one tattoo. (I had to giggle because they did the study between 11am and 3pm when people were less likely to be "tipsy"!)
The researchers found that the younger someone was when they got a tattoo the more likely they were to regret getting it. 35% of those under age 18 when they got their tattoo regretted it. This percentage decreased to 13.6% when people got it between ages 18-20 and 11.4% for those who were at least age 21.
Of interest the study also found that 21.2% received a tattoo while intoxicated and 17.6% of the surveyed group got a tattoo somewhere other than a tattoo parlor.
I liked this study because it remind us that getting a tattoo requires some good decision making skills that teens (and drunks!) are often lacking. Also I was surprised at the number of people not using tattoo parlors (since they are on every corner). When one gets a tattoo elsewhere it puts them at risk of getting HIV or hepatitis C from unclean needles.
I think the takeaway point from this study is that we need to talk to our teens about tattoos. We should encourage them to wait until they are at least 18 to get one and the improved safety of getting them at a tattoo parlor. Teens like to express themselves so I would encourage instead of a tattoo that they change their hair color/style, make up or clothes style. (Things that are reversible!) Also I have pointed out to my teen that what is in style today for clothes or hair will not be in style in 10-20 years. So a tattoo that looks good now may be out of style in 10-20 years!
