title: Tattooing in adolescents: more common than you think--the phenomenon and risks.
abstract: Adolescents are obtaining tattoos, yet professionals in medical and sociological fields attribute it mostly to gang affiliation. Further information about this at-risk behavior is needed so school nurses can plan and implement applicable health promotion strategies. A total of 642 adolescents from five suburban high schools and one large urban school district in Texas participated in this study. Tattooed adolescents (N = 105) described their decisions, events, and experiences before, during, and after the tattoo procedure so purchase, possession, and health-risk factors could be examined. Over one-third of the non-tattooed adolescents are considering tattooing in the future.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McConnell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology