Study: 'Body art' linked to 'deviance'

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LUBBOCK, Texas, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- A Texas Tech University sociology study suggests a correlation between multiple pieces of "body art," aka tattoos or piercings, and "deviant behavior."

Jerome Koch said his "Body Art Team" surveyed 1,753 students at four unnamed Midwestern and Southern universities and found those respondents with multiple tattoos or piercings were more likely to admit to "deviant behavior."

"Results indicate that respondents with four or more tattoos, seven or more body piercings, or piercings located in their nipples or genitals, were substantively and significantly more likely to report regular marijuana use, occasional use of other illegal drugs, and a history of being arrested for a crime," the study said. "Less pronounced, but still significant in many cases, was an increased propensity for those with higher incidence of body art to cheat on college work, binge drink, and report having had multiple sex partners in the course of their lifetime."

The survey found 14 percent of the respondents had at least one tattoo and 37 percent had at least one body piercing. The researchers said they did not find any difference between the behaviors of students with no body art and those with small numbers of tattoos or piercings.