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.

Keywords

Forensic Psychiatry; Personality; Self-Expression; Tattoo; Identification

Introduction

Tattoos, body piercing, and other forms of body modification (BM) are becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people. A tattoo is a graphic symbol visible on the skin created by the introduction of ink into the dermis with a special needle [1,2]. The reasons for getting a tattoo are plentiful and personal. There is no specific profile of tattooed individuals nowadays but a rather wide spectrum of different types [3]. Much of the literature regarding tattoos and piercings addresses the supposed differences in mental health between people with a tattoo or piercing and the rest of the population. Studies of people with tattoos and piercings are also often focused on other mental health disorders and personality disorders [4-7]. The results, however, are often ambiguous, even within individual studies. While Stirn, for instance, does not demonstrate a connection between having a body modification and higher levels of anxiety or depression, the same research observes that persons with BM frequently believe they have progressively worse mental health than those who do not have modifications [8]. The informative world of tattooed people is explored in this article, along with the use of questionnaire-based research for personality evaluation and the possible insights that the mini-IPIP (Mini International Personality Item Pool) scale may offer [9,10]. The results of studies on the relationship between body modifications and personality disorders are also contradictory. The informative world of tattooed people is explored in this article, along with the use of questionnaire-based research for personality evaluation and the possible insights that the mini-IPIP (Mini International Personality Item Pool) scale may offer.

Material And Methods

The total number of tattooed participants in the current study was 127, including 78 men and 49 women. The participants were separated into groups based on their level of education, employment, religion, marital status, use of medications, and use of illegal substances. Participants self-reported on sociodemographic information including age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, and education. The mini IPIP is a brief measure of the five-factor model of personality with documented validity and may be used for assessing an individual's personality. Mini-IPIP is a psychometrically acceptable and practically useful short measure of the Big Five personality factors. Openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism are among the personalities.

Statistical Analysis & Results

Before analyses were undertaken, data were screened for missing values, outliers (univariate and multivariate), and normality in SPSS Statistics Version 25. In SPSS Statistics Version 25, we gathered descriptive statistics for key demographic and health variables to define the sample.

Table 1: Independent Sample T-Test on the Given Population Using the Mini-IPIP Scale.

 

Statistic

DF

P

Openness

1.16

125

0.24845

Conscientiousness

-0.858

125

0.39234

Extraversion

-0.465

125

0.64295

Agreeableness

0.963

125

0.33743

Neuroticism

3.522

125

0.0006

Table 2: Descriptive Statistics of the given Population and Mean, Median, Standard Deviation and Standard Error Using Mini-IPIP Scale.

 

Group

N

Mean

Median

SD

SE

Openness

Female

49

12.7

13

2.17

0.31

 

Male

78

12.1

12

3

0.34

Conscientiousness

Female

49

12.5

12

2.3

0.329

 

Male

78

12.8

12

2.26

0.256

Extraversion

Female

49

12.2

12

1.86

0.266

 

Male

78

12.4

12

3.04

0.344

Agreeableness

Female

49

14.2

14

2.37

0.338

 

Male

78

13.7

14

2.64

0.299

Neuroticism

Female

49

13.3

13

2.35

0.335

 

Male

78

11.9

12

2.14

0.243

Table 3: Independent Sample T-Test on the Given Population Using the Mini-IPIP Scale Based on the Employment Status.

 

Statistic

DF

P

Openness

0.719

125

0.47377

Conscientiousness

-0.724

125

0.47021

Extraversion

0.671

125

0.5034

Agreeableness

0.658

125

0.51179

Neuroticism

0.177

125

0.85943

The cluster plot and variable analysis is shown in the Figure 1&2. The error bar has been implemented on the whole population based on the employee's job status and drug use (Figure 3,4 & 5).

The standard error of estimate (SE) is low for male associated with value 0.243. Independent sample t-test on the given population using the mini-IPIP scale based on the whole population and substance use gave a p-value of <0.05 (i.e. 0.006 and 0.089) respectively.

Table 4: Group Descriptive Statistics of the Given Population and Mean, Median, Standard Deviation and Standard Error Using Mini-IPIP Scale Based on the Employment Status.

 

Group

Mean

Median

SD

SE

Openness

Unemployed

12.5

12

2.39

0.276

 

Employed

12.2

12

3.14

0.435

Conscientiousness

Unemployed

12.6

12

2.23

0.258

 

Employed

12.9

12.5

2.35

0.326

Extraversion

Unemployed

12.5

12

2.23

0.257

 

Employed

12.2

12

3.15

0.437

Agreeableness

Unemployed

14

14

2.41

0.279

 

Employed

13.7

14

2.72

0.377

Neuroticism

Unemployed

12.4

12

2.38

0.275

 

Employed

12.4

12

2.25

0.312

Table 5: Independent Sample T-Test on the Given Population Using The Mini-Ipip Scale Based on the Substance Use.

 

Statistic

DF

P

Openness

1.179

125

0.2405

Conscientiousness

1.858

125

0.06559

Extraversion

-1.018

125

0.31073

Agreeableness

0.633

125

0.52784

Neuroticism

1.713

125

0.08922

Table 6: Group Descriptive Statistics of the Given Population and Mean, Median, Standard Deviation And Standard Error Using Mini-IPIP Scale Based on the Substance Use.

 

Group

N

Mean

Median

SD

SE

Openness

No

86

12.6

13

2.59

0.28

 

Yes

41

12

12

2.95

0.461

Conscientiousness

No

86

13

12.5

2.45

0.264

 

Yes

41

12.2

12

1.77

0.277

Extraversion

No

86

12.2

12

2.27

0.245

 

Yes

41

12.7

13

3.28

0.512

Agreeableness

No

86

14

14

2.49

0.268

 

Yes

41

13.7

14

2.66

0.415

Neuroticism

No

86

12.7

12

2.38

0.257

 

Yes

41

11.9

12

2.13

0.333

Figure 1: Cluster Plot Analysis of the Given Sample.

Figure 2: Variables-PCA. Red Line Indicating Conscientiousness. Blue Line Indicating Agreeableness, Openness And Extraversion And Green Line Indicating Neuroticism.

Figure 3: Plot Diagram Representing the Result of Mini-IPIP Scale of the Whole Population.

Figure 4: Plot Diagram Representing the Result of Mini-IPIP Scale of the Whole Population Based on the Employment Status.

Figure 5: Plot Diagram Representing The Result of Mini-IPIP Scale of the Whole Population Based on the Substance Abuse.

Discussion

The impact of having a tattoo on personality characteristics has not been extensively studied. The current study set out to compare people with and without tattoos in terms of personality qualities, demand for individuality, and overall views towards tattoos. Research on the connection between personality characteristics, the need for individuality, and general attitudes towards tattoos is limited. The present results showed that there were few statistically significant differences between tattooed and non-tattooed individuals in terms of their personality and individual difference traits. [11,12] In particular, those with tattoos scored far higher on neuroticism than people without tattoos. Furthermore, those with tattoos had considerably higher positive attitudes about tattoos than non-tattooed individuals. Compared to older age groups, younger age groups had advantageous beliefs towards tattoos [1].

The Big Five tests an individual’s levels of Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism [10]. The personality attribute of being open to new experiences and intellectual pursuits is known as openness (to Experience). High scores are typically more creative, inquisitive, and sociable; nevertheless, they are also more prone to risk-taking behaviors, such as drug use, because high openness is frequently interpreted as unpredictable. Previous research has shown a strong correlation between tattoo possession and a number of risky behaviors, such as the use of illicit drugs [13,14]. However, there has been no previous literature on the association between the character trait of openness and tattoo possession. Being trustworthy and industrious is the personality attribute of conscientiousness; high scores are often more structured, productive, and disciplined, while low scorers are linked to spontaneity and adaptability but may also be interpreted as untrustworthy. Those with high extraversion scores tend to be more gregarious, outgoing, and energetic, while those with low scores are quieter and more introspective. Extraversion is the personality attribute of seeking contentment from sources outside of oneself or in the society. Higher scores indicate a person's capacity for forgiveness, modesty, and empathy; lower scores may indicate argumentativeness or unreliability. Agreeableness measures how much people adapt their actions in accordance with the demands of others. According to studies, those with higher test scores of neuroticism are likely to be less psychologically well-adjusted. Neuroticism is the emotional personality characteristic; high scorers typically exhibit anxiety, irritability, and depression [15]. In previous research held on differences in personality between tattooed and non-tattooed individuals when tested on the Big Five personality traits, tattooed individuals have shown significantly higher scores on extraversion than non-tattooed individuals [12,16].

While some research indicate that people with tattoos score higher than people without tattoos on extraversion and associated qualities like sensation seeking, other studies have shown non-significant results [17–19]. Similarly, some studies have discovered that people with tattoos score worse on conscientiousness and agreeableness assessments, while at least one additional study fails to validate the latter connection [12,19]. There has been very little research on the neuroticism scores of people with tattoos. It has been reported that people with tattoos scored lower on neuroticism than people without tattoos. [16,20].

This theory was approved in light of the current data, which revealed a statistically significant difference in the opinions of those without tattoos and those who have them. The current findings do corroborate earlier research that found people with tattoos have a more favourable attitude towards them than people without tattoos, although this finding was not particularly surprising. [12]. The hypothesis proposed that opinions regarding tattoos would change statistically significantly depending on the age group.

Though opinions and popularity about tattoo possession do tend to change with generational trends, the current study's findings could not accurately represent earlier research due to the growing prevalence of tattoos in society. There are relatively few studies on the age-related changes in tattooed attitudes. In the past, research has focused on how people see professionals who have tattoos in a professional environment where people of all ages consider them inappropriate [21].

Despite the fact that tattoo possession research has started to expand quickly, there are still a lot of inadequacies in the literature. A great deal of earlier study has focused only on how people perceive women who have tattoos. According to these findings, people have a more unfavorable opinion of women who have tattoos. The majority of earlier studies on tattoos used a sample of college and university students, who might not be entirely representative of the general population, especially when it comes to their sociodemographic. Additionally, there have been few to no studies that make an effort to analyze a universal sample. [18,22,23] There has been no previous professional studies held on prevalence of tattoos in India. To overcome the limitations mentioned above, the present study will aim to extend outside of a college sample in an effort to examine a more diverse sample.

Considering the numbers of persons with tattoos in today's culture, the sample size was small. The participants' ages varied far more than they did in numerous earlier investigations. The next stage of the investigation would include expanding the sample size to include more people including old age. It's important to research a more diverse age range because tattoos are becoming more common and seem to be starting at younger ages and has demographic and cultural variations especially in India. In this study, individuals came from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. As a result, we cannot guarantee that this study will be useful in all situations. Different outcomes may be obtained if this study were to be repeated with individuals from a larger range of countries involved. Future studies should look at whether the mini-IPIP's behavioural characteristics apply to more varied samples of people in terms of socioeconomic class, race, and ethnicity. Moreover, longitudinal follow-up investigations are required to investigate the viability of integrating the mini-IPIP into forensic psychiatric practice and research, as well as its potential for future prediction.

Conclusion

In summary, this study demonstrated the validity and reliability of the mini-IPIP as a tool for evaluating personality traits in people with tattoos. The investigation's conclusions have implications for the growing use of personality tests among people with tattoos. Studies employing questionnaires offer a useful method for examining the connection between tattoos and personality characteristics. Through an analysis of the motives, beliefs, and values of those who have tattoos, researchers can gain fascinating insights into the psychological components of tattooing as an instrument of freedom of expression.

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