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Persistent and aggressive interactions with the police: potential mental health implications
J L Hirschtick1,2, S M Homan1,2, G Rauscher2
1Sinai Health System, Sinai Urban Health Institute, 1500 S. California Ave K443, Chicago, IL 60608, USA.
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences
|February 5, 2019
Summary
Frequent police encounters, especially numerous stops, are linked to higher odds of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in men in Chicago. This highlights potential public health concerns in urban communities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Mental Health Research
- Urban Sociology
Background:
- Police presence is common in urban areas, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
- The health impacts of police interactions, especially aggressive ones, are not well understood.
- Research is needed to explore the association between police encounters and mental health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between persistent or aggressive police interactions and mental health outcomes.
- To assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms in relation to police exposure.
- To examine these associations in a sample of low-income communities of color in Chicago.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 1543 adults in ten Chicago communities was conducted between March 2015 and September 2016.
- Data included over 350 questions on health, social factors, police exposure, and mental health status.
- Sex-stratified logistic regression analyzed associations between police exposure (persistent/aggressive) and PTSD/depressive symptoms.
Main Results:
- Men with numerous lifetime police stops had three times higher odds of current PTSD symptoms (OR 3.1).
- Women with numerous lifetime police stops had two times higher odds of current PTSD symptoms, though not statistically significant after adjustment (OR 2.0).
- Neither persistent nor aggressive police exposure was significantly associated with depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Findings support preliminary evidence linking high lifetime police stops to PTSD symptoms.
- The results suggest potential public health implications for urban areas with frequent police-community interactions.
- Further research is needed to confirm a causal relationship between police encounters and PTSD.
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