Fox, Maggie (10 May, 2002). “Piercings: Should Parents Be on Pins and Needles?” Reuters.

OVERVIEW

Teenagers who come home with body piercings may be more likely to engage in risky behavior, according to a report presented to the Pediatric Academic Societies. Dr. Timothy Roberts of the University of Rochester analyzed survey data of 4,600 teens and observed an apparent correlation between piercings and drug use, sexual experimentation, and violence. There’s no reason to think the association is causal, but the indications should be enough to prompt parents to get more involved in the lives of their piercing-prone teenagers.

Consider the following findings for females have undergone body-piercing. They are 2-1/2 times more likely to:

·        Have had sex

·        Have smoked

·        Have used marijuana in the past month

They are almost 2 times as likely to have skipped school in the last year.

The same risks apply to boys, though with a higher likelihood of skipping school.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1.      Do these findings accord with your impressions of teenagers and their behavior?

2.      What would be the reasons tattoos and piercings align with these other actions?

3.      How should a parent/counselor respond if their teenager intends to get a tattoo?

IMPLICATOINS

When the desire for independence, expression, and experimentation surges in the teenage years, the body is usually what takes the brunt of things. But what parents, and perhaps even the teenagers themselves, often fail to realize is that these actions typically signal deeper needs. A close, trusting relationship with your teenager is an important starting point for preventing dangerous lifestyle decisions.