Motivation for tattooing among university students
A systematic literature review
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22205107 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sheau Wen Ong (0000-0002-9242-8391, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Pages | 102549 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Sciences & Humanities Open (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2590-2911 • E-ISSN: 2590-2911 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.ssaho.2026.102549 |
| OpenAlex | W7127985812 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
People from diverse walks of life get tattoos today; however, the practice remains more prevalent among young people in most societies. Universities offer a suitable context for examining body modification practices and attitudes because they are a concentrated population of individuals and groups from the most heterogeneous backgrounds at an important point of identity exploration and formation. Applying the PRISMA framework, this review maps and evaluates the literature addressing the motivational dimension of university students' tattooing. Twenty-eight records were found in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, as well as in the grey literature. The results of the thematic analysis indicate that quantitative inquiry is the preferred method. The included studies strongly focus on the US, although some noteworthy exceptions exist. By identifying the most salient factors behind students' motivation to get tattoos, this review elucidates the complex forces at play, which are often entangled networks of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs intertwined in the process. These findings can be applied by universities to create supportive and inclusive campus environments and to guide targeted well-being initiatives tailored to students’ needs
Grey literature · Population · Salient · Scopus · Systematic review · Thematic analysis · Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies · Infection Control in Healthcare · Tattoo and Body Piercing Complications
Modifying the body
Interrater reliability
Deviance as an historical artefact
Tattooing
Religious tattoos at one Christian university
Attitudes towards Tattoos among Spanish Health Science Students
Correlations of Religious Belief and Practice with College Students' Tattoo-Related Behavior
Behavioral and Self-Concept Differences in Tattooed and Nontattooed College Students
Effect of Tattoos on Perceptions of Credibility and Attractiveness
College Students with Tattoos and Piercings
Correlates of Tattoos and Reference Groups
Playful female skinscapes
Stories on the Skin
Getting inked
The protestant ethic and the religious tattoo
The College Student’s Religious Tattoo
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Emerging adulthood
Avoiding the "Job-Stopper" Tattoo
(Tat)who Am I? Tattoos as an Expression of Narrative Identity
College Students, Tattooing, And The Health Belief Model
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |