Tattoos have grown in popularity dramatically over recent decades. A new survey-based study investigates whether they have any associations with risky behavior or adverse health outcomes.

In 2003, just 16% of people in the US had a tattoo. By 2015, that figure had increased to 29%. In some demographics, the rates are even higher; for instance, almost half of millennials now have a tattoo. In the past, some people considered tattoos a rebellion against the norm. People thought they were a signal of risk-taking behavior and increased health risks.

A report published in the journal Pediatrics in 2017 reads:

"In a retrospective analysis from 2007 to 2008, tattoos were associated with alcohol and drug use, violence and weapons carrying, sexual activity, eating disorders, and suicide."

Investigating ink

However, the tattoo's spike in popularity has diminished some of the negative assumptions. As the authors of the report in Pediatrics continue, "the scientific link between tattooing and risk behaviors is less consistent today." Earlier research in Germany connected wearing tattoos with mental health issues, and other studies have linked them to increased sexual activity, among other things. Evidence, though, is contradictory and researchers often find it difficult to interpret. A new study, published in the International Journal of Dermatology, takes a fresh look.

As "getting inked" becomes more commonplace and attitudes toward tattoos shift, the authors wanted to draw an updated picture of today's tattooed population. Specifically, they focused on health-related outcomes and risky behaviors. To investigate, they used data from a survey that researchers conducted in July 2016. In total, there were 2,008 participants, all of whom were living in the US.

The survey included questions about medical diagnoses, perceived health—both physical and mental—drug use, sexual activity, and sleep quality. The survey also noted how many tattoos each participant had, how visible they were, and whether some people might consider them offensive. In their analysis, the scientists also controlled for a range of demographic characteristics, such as race, education level, and marital status.

Under the skin of tattoos

The researchers found that tattoos were more common in people who were married or divorced than those who were single. Individuals with lower levels of education were also more likely to have a tattoo. Heterosexual people were less likely to have a tattoo than homosexual individuals—29.9% and 41%, respectively.

When it came to physical health, however, the data did not show any strong relationships. The authors write:

"Our results indicate that having a tattoo(s) in general, and the features therein specifically, are not significantly related to overall health status."

Mental health

In the sample, 30% of respondents reported having had a mental health diagnosis. Of these, 42.3% had a tattoo. In comparison, of those who had never received a diagnosis, 28% had a tattoo.

Sleep

Half of the people in the sample reported experiencing sleep problems. Individuals with tattoos were more likely to have sleep troubles than those without—36.6%and 27.6%, respectively. This study is the first to identify a link between sleep problems and tattoos.

Risky behaviors

The scientists noted that risky behaviors were significantly more common in people with tattoos. For instance, 49.3% of current smokers have a tattoo, compared with 28.1% of nonsmokers. Also, 55.2% of people who had been to jail had a tattoo, compared with 29.3% of those who had not been to prison. As for the number of sexual partners within the last 12 months, people with tattoos had an average of 1.5 partners, whereas individuals without tattoos had an average of 1.1 partners. There was also an interaction between risky behavior and the type and number of tattoos. The authors write:

"In just about all cases, risky behaviors tend to increase with the number, visibility, and offensiveness of tattoos."

The findings related to risky behavior confirm results of earlier studies. However, the authors were surprised that these risky activities do not seem to translate into adverse health outcomes.

The study also has certain limitations. For instance, as the authors note, they did not collect data on the timing of tattoos. This means that they could not tell whether someone became ill before or after getting a tattoo, for example.