Think Before You Ink: Perception, Prevalence, and Correlates of Tattooing and Tattoo Regret in US Adults.

Introduction Few population-based studies have examined the perception and prevalence of tattoos and tattoo regret in the general United States (US) adult population. Our objective was to report the perception of people with tattoos and describe the prevalence, socio-demographics, health-related quality of life, and the extent of tattoo regret in US adults. Methods Data were assessed from a cross-sectional study of US adults. Participants were recruited using a random stratified sampling framework similar to the US Census. Data collected for all participants included socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, general health-related quality of life (Veterans RAND 12-item), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item), and perceptions of those with tattoos. Those with tattoos also answered questions about their tattoo(s), including age when first tattooed, reasons for getting a tattoo, and tattoo regret. Categorical data were described by percentages, and continuous data by mean and standard deviation. Proportions were compared with Chi-squared tests and the means with ANOVA. A logistic regression controlling for confounding variables was carried out to assess factors predictive of tattoo regret. Results Of the 3033 participants, 35.3% (1,072) reported having a tattoo. Those more likely to have a tattoo were female (58% vs. 45%), younger (38 vs. 46 years), smoked cigarettes (38% vs. 19% non-smoker), and/or reported an alcohol or drug problem (10% vs. 5%). Those without tattoos were more likely to perceive those with tattoos as less attractive, intelligent, professional, and more rebellious. More time (in years) with a tattoo, having a tattoo on the face, neck, hands, wrist, or fingers, getting a tattoo because of peer pressure, being impaired when getting a tattoo, and experiencing an adverse event related to a tattoo were predictive of tattoo regret. Older age and remembrance as the reason for a tattoo were predictive of not having tattoo regret. Conclusion More than one-third of the study sample comprised of adults in the US reported having at least one tattoo. While most people, regardless of their tattoo status, perceived tattooed and non-tattooed individuals equally, tattooed individuals were more likely to be perceived negatively than positively by those without tattoos. Whether tattooed or not, being aware of varying perceptions of tattoo status may be helpful in facilitating positive outcomes.

COVID-19 vaccination and race - A nationwide survey of vaccination status, intentions, and trust in the US general population.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for adults and children varies depending on societal factors, race, and trust ascribed to the source of vaccine information. OBJECTIVE: To assess COVID-19 vaccination rates and trust levels for vaccine information by race at 2 time points. METHODS: Online cross-sectional data from US adults were collected in February/March 2021 (T1) and November 2021 (T2). Questions included vaccination status, reasons for vaccine refusal, trust levels for vaccine information and the Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale. At T2, parents were asked about vaccination status of children aged 12-18 years and intent for children aged 5-11 years. Vaccination rates and trust levels for vaccine information were measured. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify characteristics predictive of receiving COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: Vaccination rates were 20.2% and 70.8% at T1 and T2, respectively. At T1 and T2, higher proportions of White (23.2% and 72.0%) and Other race (14.4% and 75.2%) respondents were vaccinated relative to Black respondents (9.6% and 64.4%) (P < 0.05). In descending order, respondents' doctors, family members, and pharmacists were the most trusted information sources. Black parents, relative to White and Other parents with unvaccinated children aged 12-18 years or who were not very likely to vaccinate younger children, reported lowest physician trust (P < 0.01). At T1, being married, college educated, and older and having greater Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale scores and a higher number of comorbidities predicted a higher likelihood of being vaccinated. Being Black, having a median household income less than $100,000, and residing in the Northeast or Midwest, relative to the West, predicted a decreased likelihood of being vaccinated. At T2, race and comorbidities were no longer predictive of vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Racial variation in vaccination status decreased from T1 to T2. Physician trust predicted vaccination status and intent regardless of race. Respondents' doctors, family members, and pharmacists are trusted sources of vaccine information, and targeting these influencers may reduce vaccination hesitancy. DISCLOSURES: Dr Brown reports personal fees from Taiho Oncology, outside the submitted work. Dr Morlock reports personal fees from Johnson and Johnson, Heron Therapeutics, Evofem Biosciences, Horizon Therapeutics, and Taiho Oncology, outside the submitted work. Amy Morlock reports personal fees from both AbbVie (formerly Allergan) and Ironwood, outside the submitted work. Drs Blakolmer and Heidari have nothing to disclose.

Corrigendum: Psychedelic Mushrooms in the USA: Knowledge, Patterns of Use, and Association With Health Outcomes.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.780696.].

COVID-19 prevalence and predictors in United States adults during peak stay-at-home orders.

BACKGROUND: Early recognition of COVID-19 cases is essential for effective public health measures aimed at isolation of individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). The objective of this study was to describe characteristics, self-reported symptoms, and predictors of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection in a community-based sample. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This was a cross-sectional nationwide survey of adults in the US conducted between April 24 through May 13, 2020. The survey targeted a representative sample of approximately 5,000 respondents. The rate of COVID-19 cases and testing, most frequently reported symptoms, symptom severity, treatment received, impact of COVID-19 on mental and physical health, and factors predictive of testing positive were assessed. Most of the 5,203 participants (85.6%) reported no COVID-19-like symptoms. Of the 747 (14.5%) participants reporting COVID-19-like symptoms, 367 (49.1%) obtained a diagnostic test. Eighty-nine participants (24.3%) reported a positive COVID-19 test result, representing 1.7% of the total sample. For those testing positive, the most common symptoms were dry cough, fever, and shortness of breath/difficulty breathing. Those who tested positive were more likely to report greater symptom severity versus those who tested negative. Severe dry cough, new loss of taste or smell, trouble waking up, living with someone experiencing symptoms, recent international travel, respiratory issues, and reporting ethnicity of Black or African American were predictive of testing positive. CONCLUSIONS: This study assessed the impact of COVID-19 using community-level self-reported data across the US during the peak of most stay at home' orders. Self-reported symptoms and risk factors identified in this study are consistent with the clinical profile emerging for COVID-19. In the absence of widespread testing, this study demonstrates the utility of a representative US community-based sample to provide direct-reported symptoms and outcomes to quickly identify high-risk individuals who are likely to test positive and should consider taking greater precautions.

Psychedelic Mushrooms in the USA: Knowledge, Patterns of Use, and Association With Health Outcomes.

Introduction: Popular media coverage of psychedelics use, growing research into this class of compounds for psychiatry and decriminalization initiatives, are transforming the public perception of psychedelics. However, little is known about levels of knowledge and psychedelic mushroom (PM) use among American adults. Methods: We examined PM use and various measures of health status, quality of life, and self-reported mental health outcome measures obtained through a national on-line, cross-sectional survey of adults with a demographic composition representative of the US adult population by region, gender, age, and race (weighted N = 251,297,495) from November 2020-March 2021. Results: General mental health and well-being were popular reasons for PM use (63.6%), although use for medically-diagnosed (31.8%) and self-diagnosed (19.0%) conditions was also common. PM users reported more depression and anxiety as reflected in higher GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. Factors predictive of PM use included being male [OR 1.54 95%CI 1.09-2.15] and having higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores [OR 1.42; 95%CI 1.22-1.65]. Self-reported PM use was less likely among participants with health insurance [OR = 0.50 (0.35-0.72)], increased age [OR = 0.92 (0.90-0.93)] and, relative to those living in the west US census region, living in the northeast [OR = 0.27 (0.15-0.50)], midwest [OR = 0.34 (0.20-0.56)], and south [OR = 0.38 (0.26-0.55)]. Discussion and Conclusions: A significant number of Americans are already "self-medicating" with PM and as growing positive media coverage of psychedelics drives public interest in the health benefits of PM, this number will increase. The association between PM use and poor mental health requires further research to inform policy.