Exploring the Intricacies of Personality Assessment in Individuals with Tattoos

Vijayanath V, Anitha MR, Kesavan Bharathi KR, Priyadharsan S and Mohammed Akbar NJ

Published on: 2025-08-08

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to explore the association between personality traits and individuals with tattoos, focusing on psychological dimensions such as motivations, values, and behavioral tendencies.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 127 tattooed participants (78 men and 49 women). Data were collected using a questionnaire that included the Mini-IPIP scale to assess the Big Five personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Participants were categorized based on demographic and lifestyle variables such as education, employment, religion, marital status, medication use, and illegal drug use.

Results: The independent sample t-test indicated a statistically significant correlation between tattoo presence and higher levels of neuroticism (p < 0.01). Visual representation using error bars highlighted notable differences in personality traits based on employment status and drug use. Other traits did not show significant associations.

Conclusions: Tattooing serves as a meaningful avenue of self-expression and may reflect underlying psychological profiles, particularly elevated neuroticism. Questionnaire-based personality assessments like the Mini-IPIP are valuable tools for understanding the complex interplay between individual identity and body modification practices.