Abstract
Tattooing is a stressor that could have adaptive benefits. Previous research indicates that endocrine and immune systems adjust to the stress of modern electric tattooing over lifetime experience, but it is unclear how these systems react to traditional hand-tap tattooing. The objective of this study was to explore how the body responds to this intense cultural stressor through examining traditional tattooing in Samoa, where saliva samples were collected throughout the first day from a Samoan man receiving the tattoo. Morning elevations and diurnal profiles of cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), and bacteria killing activity (BKA) are described, and comparison is made between these data and a previous study including hand-tap and electric tattooing. Peaks in the diurnal cortisol slope correspond with anticipation of beginning an important tattoo, tattooing activity, and evening pain as stress-related analgesia diminishes and inflammation rises. Peaks in CRP levels may reflect normal moment-to-moment changes in salivary excretion. sIgA and BKA fluctuate similarly to one another throughout the day of tattooing. There were no significant differences in average pain ratings or biomarker levels between the two tattooing styles. Exploring tattooing and endocrine function is important to understanding how culture interacts with endocrine and immune function.
Recommended Citation
Landgraf, Lauren A.; Nowak, Tomasz; Gassen, Jeffrey; Muehlenbein, Michael; and Lynn, Christopher D.
(2024)
"A case study of endocrine and immune responses to traditional hand-tap tattooing,"
Pacific Journal of Health: Vol. 7:
Iss.
1, Article 12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56031/2576-215X.1060
Available at:
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/pjh/vol7/iss1/12
