Ink positive: how tattoos can heal the mind as well as adorn the body

Question

The claim that tattoos can have mental health benefits beyond aesthetic appeal is supported by emerging psychological research. The article references a study published in the Journal of Psychological Science, which found that people who received tattoos often reported a greater sense of control and improved self-esteem following their ink sessions (Psychological Science). Additionally, a review in the International Journal of Dermatology highlighted that tattoos can serve as therapeutic tools for trauma survivors, allowing them to reclaim their bodies and reduce symptoms of PTSD (IJD Review). Experts like Dr. Viren Swami, a social psychologist from Anglia Ruskin University, have conducted studies showing that tattoos can enhance body image and help individuals form stronger identities, particularly after experiences of emotional distress (Swami Study). 

Answer 1

The claim that tattoos can have mental health benefits beyond aesthetic appeal is supported by emerging psychological research. The article references a study published in the Journal of Psychological Science, which found that people who received tattoos often reported a greater sense of control and improved self-esteem following their ink sessions (Psychological Science). Additionally, a review in the International Journal of Dermatology highlighted that tattoos can serve as therapeutic tools for trauma survivors, allowing them to reclaim their bodies and reduce symptoms of PTSD (IJD Review). Experts like Dr. Viren Swami, a social psychologist from Anglia Ruskin University, have conducted studies showing that tattoos can enhance body image and help individuals form stronger identities, particularly after experiences of emotional distress (Swami Study). 

Comments

This is a great summary. I like how you grounded the claim in solid research. It is fascinating to me that tattoos which often have a rebellious and almost dangerous connotation to them are now being considered for their psychological impact on people’s mental health. Tattoos express art, and can foster a sense of belonging and self-esteem which I had never even considered.

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I found your comment to be very clear and informative. It does a very good job at confirming the initial claim, and is very captivating in its explanation. I found your source to be very clear and allowed for a deeper understanding of weather or not tattoos have mental health benefits.

Answer 2

After conducting my own research and fact checking this article, I believe this claim to be true. The main study that this article focuses on is "Marked for life? A prospective study of tattoos on appearance anxiety and dissatisfaction, perceptions of uniqueness, and self-esteem" by Viren Swami, professor of psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. This study seems to be grounded in concrete, controlled research by a qualified individual. The study concluded that getting a tattoo decreased social anxiety and increased self esteem and positive body image.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1740144511000507?via%3Dihub

Comments

I liked that you used Viren Swami’s study, and that you confirmed that the research was done by a qualified psychologist. One suggestion, it might  help if you explained what made the study controlled.

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I think it's very helpful that you did your own research to be able to fact-check the statement above. Also, I liked how you cited your source so that readers can reference the article that helped you get to your conclusion. However, I think it would be great if you added some quotes or evidence from the article that supports your claim.

Answer 3

“Tattoos can have mental health benefits beyond aesthetic appeal.”

The claim that tattoos can provide mental health benefits is actually supported by multiple sources. A study published in "Psychological Science" showed that people who got tattoos said to have had improved self-esteem and more control over their bodies. So, your claim is valid. 

 

Answer 4

The claim that tattoos are associated with positive health on the mind does have validity in it. The Guardian article referenced cites Dr. Viren Swami. Swami being a professor at Anglia Ruskin University, his research is strong to support the claims. When looking further at other credible sources such as the International Journal of Dermatology and the National Library of medicine. Research seems to suggest that there is a trend of those getting tattoos, depicting that self-esteem and mental health is improved with/around tattooing. "Immediately after getting the tattoo, both men and women reported reduced anxiety and less dissatisfaction around their appearance, effects that were sustained at 3-wk follow up. On 3-wk follow up, both genders also reported an overall increase in self-esteem. This suggests that tattoos can mitigate negative attitudes a wearer might hold about one’s appearance." ( National Library of Medicine). This was research conducted by Swami ( Marked for life? A prospective study of tattoos on appearance anxiety and dissatisfaction, perceptions of uniqueness, and self esteem), in the study the looked at 82 British residents and their behaviors within the span of getting a tattoo and healing. During this time they measured body appreciation, distinctive appearance investment, self-ascribed uniqueness, social physique anxiety, and self-esteem throughput the process. These articles both show validity in the claim that tattoos have positives effect mentally.

Answer 5

Adding onto this claim, traditional samoan tattoos are said to have health benefits as well. This is rooted in the idea that tattoos will boost your immune system and protect you from sickness. These traditional ways of hand poke tattoos can take sometimes up to two weeks. The article addresses a study that has been shown from saliva samples that there are people getting tattoos in  "Samoa to ascertain stress and health indicators". This is overall building their immune system from undergoing the stress tattooing puts on the body. When getting a tattoo, it is a wound that the body is reacting to heal, studies have shown that the short term stress it puts will boost your immunity. the article "Short-term stress experienced at time of immunization induces a long-lasting increase in immunologic memory" showed that when stress lasts minutes to hours triggers an adaptive fight or flight response which will strengthen the bodies future responses. Showing that tattoos will not only heal the mind but the body as well.

https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/could-samoan-tattooing-help-boost-the-immune-system/11364910

https://www.sapiens.org/biology/tattoo-immune-response/

https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpregu.00145.2005

Comments

This was a really good response because there are many various ways of how to get tattoos. As you mentioned, traditional poke tattoos are still fairly common in certain cultures today. I personally never knew the differences of how tattoos affected our health and immunity and seeing that they can boost your immunity and health is fairly interesting. I also agree that tattoos can be beneficial mentally especially with physical appearance. It's an art to be able to get something permanent on our bodies with so much meaning. It has the ability to create stories and overall social interaction as people will be interested in what you have on yourself.

Answer 6

This article claims that tattoos which are not only used for body art can have deeper psychological effects such as help when dealing with grief or trauma. This particular claim references an article written by the Guardian. Ink positive: how tattoos can heal the mind as well as adorn the body. (Guardian). I have found this statement to be true and backed up by very reputable sources, one of which being the National Library of Medicine, an official site of the US government. They were able to find that tattooing can be a means of relieving mental health issues especially for individuals who may suffer from PTSD “Mr. A is a 31-year-old Caucasian United States Army veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on military combat experiences while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.... At the age of 31, he presented for treatment of PTSD with bilateral full arm tattoos along with visible tattoos on his hands, knuckles, and the back of his neck.”(National Library of Medicine). The participant in this particular case felt he was able to combat his PTSD by getting tattoos related to his life experiences, even getting names of fellow soldiers lost in war times tattooed on him. Overall, I have found this claim and article to be truthful.  

Answer 7

I hadn't heard this claim before but find it so interesting. There are many things that improve peoples mental health and I think this is so cool. your backing is solid and intriguing. I also think that tattoos have negative connotations most of the time but I find that more and more young people seem to be getting them and I think this could go along with the fact that gen z is known for having more mental health issues. I think the reputation that people with tattoos seem to have is untrue and in fact is so interesting that it seems to improve peoples mental health and confidence.