Tattoos und Piercings: Motive für Körpermodifi­kationen bei Frauen mit Borderline-Symptomatik

Abstract

Do women suffering from borderline symptomatology differ from women without these symptoms regarding their motives for body modifications?A sample of 289 women with body modifications were questioned about their tattoos, piercings and motives for body modifications as well as about symptoms of borderline personality disorder. Women with borderline symptomatology were compared to women without borderline symptomatology concerning the extent of and motives for body modification.The 2 groups showed no differences in regard to amount and extent of body modifications. The "borderline"-group considered individuality, coping and management of negative life-events to be more crucial reasons for body modification than the non-borderline females.The degree of a person's body modification is not a feasible indicator for psychopathological strain. Though, for people with borderline tendency body modification may serve as a coping strategy similar to self-injury.

Body modifications in borderline personality disorder patients: prevalence rates, link with non-suicidal self-injury, and related psychopathology

“…In a more recent international study, Kluger et al (2019) evaluated the prevalence of tattooing among a representative sample of the population of 5 major countries ( n = 11 079) and found that, in the 25–34 years old subgroup (which can be compared in term of age to our sample), 27.3% of the sample had at least one tattoo (with 16.4% wearing one tattoo and 10.9% wearing several) which is far less than in our sample where 69.83% of BPD patients had at least one tattoo and 22.41% had more than 10% of their body covered. Concerning studies directly comparing BPD patients and the general population, only a few have been made, with conflicting results regarding this outcome (some finding a difference [ 42 ] and some not [ 43 ]). Given the lack of studies comparing body modifications in BPD patients with other clinical population, we also compared BM prevalence in BPD patients with BM prevalence in an adult ADHD clinical control group.…”

Tattoos embody autobiographical memories

“…For example, borderline patients use tattoos to cope with negative life experiences, indicating that the tattoos help them to regulate negative emotions and inner tension. Furthermore, they reported that their tattoos remind them of identity-forming life experiences and thus represent reassurance (Höhner et al 2014). Indeed, Haubl (2000) considers identity formation to be the central motivation for getting a tattoo.…”

Body Modification and Personality: Intimately Intertwined?

“…An additional study by Hohner and colleagues (14) examined the link between the presence of borderline personality traits and body modification. In a sample of 289 women with body modifications, a group manifesting borderline personality traits was identified and then compared with the remaining women who did not manifest these same personality traits.…”

“…No difference was found in the number or nature of body modifications between the two groups. While a definitive conclusion on the relation between borderline personality disorder and body modification awaits more rigorously designed studies, the work of Hohner and colleagues (14) highlights that the number and type of body modification were not useful discriminators in a modern cohort of women. When compared with the work of Inch and Huws (12), the evidence presented by Hohner and colleagues also suggests that a re-evaluation of previously held assumptions about body modification and personality may be topical.…”