Body piercing and tattooing perspectives.

This descriptive, correlational study surveyed 79 pierced and/or tattooed participants to determine reasons why people pierce and tattoo their bodies and to assess participants' knowledge of health risks involved in body alteration procedures. Participants queried represented a wide age range-between 19 and 55. Results showed that participants perceived few health risks involving piercing and tattooing and desired additional piercings and/or tattoos. Individual expression was an important body alteration motivation for both piercing and tattooing. These findings underscore the importance of health care professionals' maintaining nonjudgmental attitudes about those who alter their bodies, there by facilitating important health education concerning related health risks. Suggestions for nursing applications are discussed.