Amateur tattooing practices and beliefs among high school adolescents.

Purpose: The objective of this research was to investigate the reasons, experiences, methods, and perceived health consequences of obtaining tattoos among a sample of Western Australian high school adolescents.

Methods: Information pertaining to levels of health awareness and school social behavior were obtained. Data were gathered in two phases using a questionnaire and follow-up interviews.

Public health aspects of tattooing among Australian adults.

Medical, criminological and psychiatric literatures have pointed to risks associated with tattooing, but most of this work has been conducted with samples which have other known risk factors or disturbances. This paper investigates the reasons, experiences, methods, and perceived consequences of obtaining tattoos among a sample of Australian adults. The findings complement, extend and in some respects contrast with earlier research.