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Prevalence and Characteristics of Body Piercing and Tattooing Among High School Students

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Abstract

Background: Although body piercing and tattooing seem to be gaining popularity among a diversity of social and age groups, studies of these practices in general adolescent populations are scarce. This study establishes the prevalence of body modification (tattooing and body piercing) among high school students in grades 7–11 (aged 12 to 18).

Methods: Data come from a 2002 in-school survey conducted among a representative sample of 2,180 students (81% response rate) enrolled in the 23 high schools of the Outaouais region in Quebec. Systematic sampling was performed. Specific data on tattooing and body piercing are available for 2,145 students (1% non-response rate).

Results: A prevalence of 27% for body piercing and 8% for tattooing is observed among high school students. Differences between girls and boys are observed in many ways: i.e., frequency and number of tattoos or piercings; aftercare practices. While most teens say that a “professional” in a studio performed their body modification and that they received aftercare instruction, a high percentage of students report health complications following the procedure.

Conclusion: Results show that tattooing and body piercing are common among adolescents and may involve health risks. Consequently, appropriate preventive measures should be adopted by professionals such as school counsellors, nurses, physicians and others who are in contact with teenagers to help them make informed choices.

Résumé

Introduction: Le tatouage et le perçage corporel semblent de plus en plus populaires dans des groupes sociaux très divers. Cependant, les études menées auprès de populations générales d’adolescents sont encore rares. Notre étude vise à décrire ces pratiques de modification corporelle et à établir leur prévalence chez des élèves du secondaire âgés de 12 à 18 ans.

Méthode: Les données proviennent de l’enquête transversale réalisée en 2002 auprès d’un échantillon représentatif de 2 180 élèves inscrits dans les 23 écoles secondaires de la région de l’Outaouais au Québec. L’échantillonnage a été réalisé de façon systématique à partir de la liste complète des élèves de chaque école. Le taux de réponse était de 81 %. Les données spécifiques sur le tatouage et le perçage corporel sont disponibles pour 2 145 élèves (taux de non-réponse partielle de 1 %).

Résultats: Des prévalences de 27 % pour le perçage corporel et de 8 % pour le tatouage ont été observées chez les élèves. Plusieurs différences existent selon le sexe, comme par exemple au niveau du nombre de modifications. Bien que la plupart des adolescents affirment avoir fait faire leur modification corporelle par un « professionnel » et avoir reçu de l’information sur les soins à prendre, un pourcentage élevé d’élèves fait état de complications de santé après l’intervention.

Conclusion: Les résultats montrent que le tatouage et le perçage corporel sont fréquents chez les adolescents, et qu’ils peuvent représenter un risque pour leur santé. Par conséquent, des mesures préventives appropriées devraient être adoptées par les professionnels qui sont en contact avec les jeunes (conseillers en milieu scolaire, infirmières, médecins et autres), de manière à les aider à faire des choix éclairés sur la base d’informations valides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Outaouais Public Health Unit, Health and Social Services Agency of Outaouais, Public Health Unit, 104 Lois St., Gatineau, QC, J8Y 3R7, Canada

    Marthe Deschesnes PhD & Philippe Finès PhD

  2. Coeur-des-Vallées Schoolboard, Canada

    Stéphanie Demers MA

Authors
  1. Marthe Deschesnes PhD
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  2. Stéphanie Demers MA
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  3. Philippe Finès PhD
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Correspondence to Marthe Deschesnes PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: This study was conducted through a grant from the Public Health Grant Program of the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services.

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Deschesnes, M., Demers, S. & Finès, P. Prevalence and Characteristics of Body Piercing and Tattooing Among High School Students. Can J Public Health 97, 325–329 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405614

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