Tattooing and piercing are associated with symptoms of ADHD: A cross-sectional study of non-clinical adults
Introduction Previous studies suggest that individuals with tattoos and piercings exhibit higher impulsive personality traits compared to peers without body modifications. No studies on body modifications and core-symptoms of ADHD are available. Objectives This study aimed to compare self-reported...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002553/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797617602985459712 |
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| author | M. Glans S. Bejerot J. Dossou Nilsson |
| author_facet | M. Glans S. Bejerot J. Dossou Nilsson |
| author_sort | M. Glans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Previous studies suggest that individuals with tattoos and piercings exhibit higher impulsive personality traits compared to peers without body modifications. No studies on body modifications and core-symptoms of ADHD are available.
Objectives
This study aimed to compare self-reported ADHD symptoms between non-clinical adults with and without body modifications.
Methods
A non-clinical adult Swedish population (n=815) completed the Adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS-v1.1) and answered questions concerning body modification. ADHD diagnosis served as exclusion criterion. Three grouping variables were analysed separately; tattoo status, piercing status and a combination of having both tattoo and piercing. Linear regression compared mean ASRS total- and subscale scores between individuals with and without body modification according to each grouping variable, while adjusting for candidate covariates age and sex.
Results
The prevalence of each body modification variable was; 30% for tattoo, 18% for piercing other than earlobe and 12% for combination of tattoo and piercing. Any combination of body modification was associated with significantly higher ASRS total- and subscale scores compared to no body modification. The most pronounced differences between groups were for the combination of tattoo and piercing, and on the hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) subscale; revealing adjusted mean differences of 4.3 points (range 0-72) on the ASRS-total score (p <0.001) and 2.6 points (range 0-36) on the ASRS HI subscale (p <0.001).
Conclusions
Body modification was associated with more pronounced ADHD core symptoms amongst non-clinical adults. Although statistically significant, the clinical significance is uncertain. The prevalence rates of body modifications in our cohort indicate that they are becoming cultural normal.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:58:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1c95b338d3d4e5f9bd286f1eacecec1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:58:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1c95b338d3d4e5f9bd286f1eacecec12023-11-17T05:05:15ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S84S8510.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.255Tattooing and piercing are associated with symptoms of ADHD: A cross-sectional study of non-clinical adultsM. Glans0S. Bejerot1J. Dossou Nilsson2Faculty of Medicine and Health, University Health Care Research Centre, Örebro, SwedenÖrebro University, Faculty Of Medicine And Health, Örebro, SwedenÖrebro University, Faculty Of Medicine And Health, Örebro, Sweden Introduction Previous studies suggest that individuals with tattoos and piercings exhibit higher impulsive personality traits compared to peers without body modifications. No studies on body modifications and core-symptoms of ADHD are available. Objectives This study aimed to compare self-reported ADHD symptoms between non-clinical adults with and without body modifications. Methods A non-clinical adult Swedish population (n=815) completed the Adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS-v1.1) and answered questions concerning body modification. ADHD diagnosis served as exclusion criterion. Three grouping variables were analysed separately; tattoo status, piercing status and a combination of having both tattoo and piercing. Linear regression compared mean ASRS total- and subscale scores between individuals with and without body modification according to each grouping variable, while adjusting for candidate covariates age and sex. Results The prevalence of each body modification variable was; 30% for tattoo, 18% for piercing other than earlobe and 12% for combination of tattoo and piercing. Any combination of body modification was associated with significantly higher ASRS total- and subscale scores compared to no body modification. The most pronounced differences between groups were for the combination of tattoo and piercing, and on the hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) subscale; revealing adjusted mean differences of 4.3 points (range 0-72) on the ASRS-total score (p <0.001) and 2.6 points (range 0-36) on the ASRS HI subscale (p <0.001). Conclusions Body modification was associated with more pronounced ADHD core symptoms amongst non-clinical adults. Although statistically significant, the clinical significance is uncertain. The prevalence rates of body modifications in our cohort indicate that they are becoming cultural normal. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002553/type/journal_articlebody piercingImpulsivityAttention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivitytattoing |
| spellingShingle | M. Glans S. Bejerot J. Dossou Nilsson Tattooing and piercing are associated with symptoms of ADHD: A cross-sectional study of non-clinical adults European Psychiatry body piercing Impulsivity Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity tattoing |
| title | Tattooing and piercing are associated with symptoms of ADHD: A cross-sectional study of non-clinical adults |
| title_full | Tattooing and piercing are associated with symptoms of ADHD: A cross-sectional study of non-clinical adults |
| title_fullStr | Tattooing and piercing are associated with symptoms of ADHD: A cross-sectional study of non-clinical adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tattooing and piercing are associated with symptoms of ADHD: A cross-sectional study of non-clinical adults |
| title_short | Tattooing and piercing are associated with symptoms of ADHD: A cross-sectional study of non-clinical adults |
| title_sort | tattooing and piercing are associated with symptoms of adhd a cross sectional study of non clinical adults |
| topic | body piercing Impulsivity Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity tattoing |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002553/type/journal_article |
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