Tattoos, gender, and well-being among American college students

•2,395 respondents from six public American Universities.•Female respondents with four or more tattoos report a four-fold increase in previous suicide attempts over those with no – or fewer than 4 – tattoos.•Female respondents with four or more tattoos report a substantively and significantly higher level of self-esteem than those with no – or fewer than 4 – tattoos.•No other significant findings are reported when comparing escalating numbers of tattoos with self-esteem, depression, suicide ideation, or history of suicide attempts.

This research note examines the relationship between survey respondents’ reports of escalating numbers of tattoos and their measured levels of self-esteem, depression, suicide ideation, and reports of one or more suicide attempts. Data were gathered from 2,395 college students attending six American public universities. Results indicate a four-fold higher level of reported suicide attempts among females with four or more tattoos as compared to those with no tattoos, or three or less. Paradoxically, results also indicate a statistically significant elevation in self-esteem within that same group. No other findings and comparisons are statistically significant. These findings are interpreted in light of previous research examining the relationship between tattoos and gender, body image, and deviance.