Body Piercing: Sign of Deviance or Normal Practice?

Body Piercing: Sign of Deviance or Normal Practice?

FRIDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- No firm evidence exists that body piercing indicates mental illness, but doctors might consider screening patients with body piercings for high-risk behaviors and for psychiatric symptoms, such as suicidal thoughts, say researchers who reviewed 23 published studies.


The analysis found that the reported prevalence of body piercing ranged from 6.8 percent to 14 percent in the general population and from 4.3 percent to 51 percent among teenagers and young adults. Females were more likely than males to have body piercing, which was associated with a wide range of potentially harmful behaviors, such as alcohol use, smoking, drug use, high-risk sex, Russian roulette and problem gambling.


Three large studies found that body piercing was related to antisocial activity in adolescents. Body piercing was more common among women with low constraint (being impulsive and thrill-seeking) and who express anger verbally. The analysis also found that body piercing is significantly associated with high negative emotionality and low positive emotionality in young females.


"A number of studies provide evidence of an association between BP and high-risk behaviors and point to a possible relationship with certain personality traits and self-reported psychopathological symptoms. However, many of the included studies are based on samples of adolescents or college students, where these behaviors might be more frequent than in other age groups. This age bias might have produced this apparent similarity. Furthermore, although the associations described in the literature are significant, the small effect size in more recent publications suggests that BP may be becoming an increasingly normal practice and should perhaps not be considered as a marker of deviance," the researchers noted.


"In most studies reviewed in this paper, psychopathological symptoms as well as BPs were both self-reported, introducing a possible social desirability bias. However, this review of literature indicates that it could be useful for general practitioners to screen for high-risk behaviors in body-pierced subjects and for psychiatric symptoms such as suicidal ideation, and to help patients explore the role of BP in their identity."


The paper is published in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

I know a kid who used to stick straight pins in his leg. He would pinch a hunk of leg and slowly stick the pin all the way in, leave it there for a minute or so, and then slowly pull it out. Wouldn't bleed at all but it didn't seem to do much damage. The pins were not exactly sterile, he would lick them first before sticking them into himself. He tells me he doesn't do that anymore. I asked him why he ever did it, and he said, "Kids do crazy things."

I dont much like body piercings or tattoos. I would never hire an applicant that had either showing when the person wore the normal clothing for the job applied for.

BMG wrote:

I dont much like body piercings or tattoos. I would never hire an applicant that had either showing when the person wore the normal clothing for the job applied for.

depends on the piercing. i like belly button ones. i even think a small diamond post in the nose can look good. tattoos, depends what they are and where they are

KK wrote:

BMG wrote:

I dont much like body piercings or tattoos. I would never hire an applicant that had either showing when the person wore the normal clothing for the job applied for.

depends on the piercing. i like belly button ones. i even think a small diamond post in the nose can look good. tattoos, depends what they are and where they are

True, some are quite tasteful but I'll never get anything like that. Just not my style.

I prefer a bone through my nose......

I think If I was a doctor I would want to screen my patients but now that we are Obamanation that won't be happening on his watch. Hope his watch only last another 3 years.

deviance for sure

ears and belly button. thats it.



for now.

What no nipples, eyebrows, nose and private parts?

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

deviance for sure

ears and belly button. thats it.



for now.

i love the belly button piercings

I love them all...lol

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

personally, i hate them

KK wrote:

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

personally, i hate them

OK how about the big ear lobes? You have to love that look.

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

The WHY is what I dont get. Dont get it at all.

BMG wrote:

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

The WHY is what I dont get. Dont get it at all.

Most that are getting tattoo's are going to be think WTF did I do that for. Nothing like a tramp stamt when you turn 60...doh!

Joebert wrote:

KK wrote:

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

personally, i hate them

OK how about the big ear lobes? You have to love that look.

not at all

BMG wrote:

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

The WHY is what I dont get. Dont get it at all.

i don't see the appeal at all

KK wrote:

BMG wrote:

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

The WHY is what I dont get. Dont get it at all.

i don't see the appeal at all

It's like tattoos but but you can remove them.

Joebert wrote:

KK wrote:

BMG wrote:

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

The WHY is what I dont get. Dont get it at all.

i don't see the appeal at all

It's like tattoos but but you can remove them.

no, it's chunks of metal where i'd rather they not be

KK wrote:

Joebert wrote:

KK wrote:

BMG wrote:

jjjamesjchrist wrote:

Joebert wrote:

I love them all...lol

i know people with nipple and labial and penis piercings, but i just dont see how or why... i mean OUCH!

The WHY is what I dont get. Dont get it at all.

i don't see the appeal at all

It's like tattoos but but you can remove them.

no, it's chunks of metal where i'd rather they not be

That's why WE don't have them.

That's why WE don't have them.[/quote]

i've got one in my ear

KK wrote:

That's why WE don't have them.

i've got one in my ear[/quote]

Hum, you aren't Mr. Clean are you?

Joebert wrote:

KK wrote:

That's why WE don't have them.

i've got one in my ear

Hum, you aren't Mr. Clean are you?[/quote]

i keep it very clean

Hm... I think piercing is ok in our time

angello wrote:

Hm... I think piercing is ok in our time

Its a personal choice and theres nothing deviant about it but its not for me. I see it as a fad.