Graduate Research Papers
Availability
Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Keywords
Black people--Pyschology; Distress (Psychology); Police questioning; Racism;
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between police interactions and psychological distress among Black adults, contributing to existing research on systemic racism and mental health disparities. Utilizing secondary data analysis, the 2023 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), this study focuses on the analysis of a nationally representative, address-based sample of non-institutionalized Black adults residing in California, with a sample size of 1,009. The study examines associations between the number of police stops over a three-year period and psychological distress by gender. Findings indicate that a higher frequency of police stops is significantly associated with increased psychological distress. However, no statistically significant gender differences were observed. These results underscore the mental health implications of police encounters for minorities and may inform public health initiatives, mental health services, and law enforcement policies aimed at addressing the impact of systemic racism in Black communities.
Year of Submission
2025
Department
Department of Social Work
First Advisor
Sei-Young Lee
Date Original
2025
Object Description
1 PDF file (29 pages)
Copyright
©2025 Anessa Smith
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Smith, Anessa, "Police Interactions on Adverse Mental Health Outcomes Within Black Communities" (2025). Graduate Research Papers. 4643.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/4643
