Abstract
The associations of body piercing with other social characteristics, personality, and sexual behavior were investigated in a population-based sample of young adults, in light of the theory that body piercing has meaning in terms of a corporeal expression of the self. At age 26 years, 966 (95%) of 1019 members of the birth-cohort of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study were asked about body piercing (at interview) and sexual behavior (questions presented by computer). Assessment of personality traits was conducted at ages 18 or 21 years. In total, 183 participants (9% of the men and 29% of the women) had piercings at a site other than the earlobes. People who lived outside New Zealand or who were of Maori descent were more likely to be pierced, but unemployment and low occupational status were not significantly related to piercing. Women who were pierced, compared with those without piercings, were more likely to have personality traits of low constraint or high negative emotionality. Women with piercings were also more likely to report having had, during the previous year, five or more heterosexual partners (odds ratio, 5.8, 95% CI: 2.3-14.6) or any same-sex partner involving genital contact (odds ratio, 10.3, CI: 2.9-37.2). The associations with sexual behavior in men were weaker and not statistically significant. In this population, body piercing in women was associated with sexual behavior. Having multiple heterosexual partners or any same-sex partner was very rare among women without piercings. The theory of meaning for body piercing was generally supported, offering the possibility of a richer understanding of this phenomenon in the general population.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the study members and the Unit Director, Associate Professor Richie Poulton, the study founder, Dr. Phil Silva, and all interview and administrative staff involved with the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. We also thank Air New Zealand for support, Dr. Joanne Baxter for advice in relation to Maori, and Associate Professor Peter Herbison for statistical advice. The research was funded by grants from the Health Research Council of New Zealand as well as a research fellowship from the Community Trust of Otago to Dr. Shyamala Nada-Raja. Personality data were funded by U.S. Public Health Service Grants from the Personality and Social Processes Research Branch to Professor A. Caspi.
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Skegg, K., Nada-Raja, S., Paul, C. et al. Body Piercing, Personality, and Sexual Behavior. Arch Sex Behav 36, 47–54 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-006-9087-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-006-9087-6