Does Use of Force Lead to Stress in Policing

Police Encounters as Stressors Summary

This research study by Alang et al. (2021) examines the relationship between social stress and mental health, with a particular focus on police brutality as a stressor. The authors argue that police brutality can be considered a significant stressor, and they examine the racial disparities in its impact on mental health. The data for the study was obtained from the Survey of the Health of Urban Residents in the United States, which included 4,389 participants.

The study found that negative encounters with the police were associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Interestingly, the relationship between these negative encounters and depressive symptoms was found to be stronger among Black and Latinx respondents compared to their White counterparts (Alang et al., 2021). This suggests that racial and ethnic differences may play a role in the mental health impact of negative police encounters.

The study also introduced the concept of anticipatory stress, defined as the fear or concern that one might become a victim of police brutality. This form of stress was found to be associated with depression and anxiety, regardless of whether the individual had personally experienced a negative encounter with the police. This suggests that the mere anticipation of police brutality can have a significant impact on mental health.

The study further explored the indirect effects of negative police encounters on mental health. It was found that these encounters can exacerbate other social stressors, such as financial difficulties or impaired social functioning, which in turn can increase the risk of poor mental health. For instance, negative experiences with the police could lead to loss of employment, financial resources in legal battles, or medical bills, all of which can contribute to mental health issues. The study also found that the perceived necessity of police actions can have an impact on mental health. Even when victims perceive police actions as justified, these actions were found to be associated with poor mental health. However, when police actions were perceived as unnecessary, the mental health impact was found to be even greater.