The Interplay between Trait Anxiety and Stigma Against Tattoos: The Indirect Effect of Humor

Alexandra Cobzeanu (), Georgiana Lä‚zä‚rescu (), Ioan-Alex Merlici (), Bogdan Mihail Cobzeanu () and Iulia Cristina Roca ()
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Alexandra Cobzeanu: Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza†University, Iasi, Romania
Georgiana Lä‚zä‚rescu: Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza†University, Iasi, Romania
Ioan-Alex Merlici: Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza†University, Iasi, Romania
Bogdan Mihail Cobzeanu: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, “Grigore T. Popa†University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Iulia Cristina Roca: Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa†University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Surgery II Department. “Grigore T. Popa†University, Iasi, Romania

Revista romaneasca pentru educatie multidimensionala - Journal for Multidimensional Education, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 684-699

Abstract: Tattoos are becoming increasingly prevalent in recent years, with more than 20% of the population having at least one. The present study examined the effect of trait anxiety on tattoo-related stigma and the indirect effect of humor on this relationship. We used a convenience sample comprising 402 female participants aged 19 to 72 (M = 32.35, SD = 7.56). Our results suggested that higher anxiety was associated with lower humor, which was further associated with higher tattoo- related stigma. Humor had a significant indirect effect on the link between trait anxiety and tattoo-related stigma when controlling for participants' tattoo status (i.e., participants with or without a tattoo). When controlling for participants' age, the mediating effect of humor did not remain significant. We discuss the practical implications of the present results concerning potential interventions to reduce stigma against people with tattoos.

Keywords: tattoos; humor; stigma; state anxiety; trait anxiety. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lum:rev1rl:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:684-699

DOI: 10.18662/rrem/17.3/1039

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