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The thin blue line of health: Police contact and wellbeing in Europe

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  • Baćak, Valerio
  • Apel, Robert

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that even minor forms of contact with the criminal justice system—such as being stopped by police—may be implicated in poor health. Police use of force can increase the risk of physical injury, whereas interactions accompanied by abusive rhetoric or threats can lead to psychological and emotional harm. Police contact may also have no health consequences for individuals or even be linked to good health because of an increased sense of public safety and confidence in law enforcement. This is the first study that explores whether contact with law enforcement is related to health and wellbeing in Europe. We estimated multilevel models with data from 26 countries that participated in the 2010 round of the European Social Survey. Across all outcomes—self-rated health, functional limitations, happiness, loneliness, and emotional wellbeing—having been approached, stopped or contacted by police was associated with worse health and wellbeing, especially when police treatment was perceived as unsatisfactory.

Suggested Citation

  • Baćak, Valerio & Apel, Robert, 2020. "The thin blue line of health: Police contact and wellbeing in Europe," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:267:y:2020:i:c:s0277953619303909
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112404
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tom R. Tyler & Jonathan Jackson & Avital Mentovich, 2015. "The Consequences of Being an Object of Suspicion: Potential Pitfalls of Proactive Police Contact," Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(4), pages 602-636, December.
    2. Tom R. Tyler & Jeffrey Fagan & Amanda Geller, 2014. "Street Stops and Police Legitimacy: Teachable Moments in Young Urban Men's Legal Socialization," Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(4), pages 751-785, December.
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    4. Geller, A. & Fagan, J. & Tyler, T. & Link, B.G., 2014. "Aggressive policing and the mental health of young urban men," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(12), pages 2321-2327.
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    6. Signe Nielsen & Allan Krasnik, 2010. "Poorer self-perceived health among migrants and ethnic minorities versus the majority population in Europe: a systematic review," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 55(5), pages 357-371, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Das, Aniruddha, 2022. "Childhood police encounters, social isolation and epigenetic age acceleration among older U.S. adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    2. Kevin Petersen & David Weisburd & Sydney Fay & Elizabeth Eggins & Lorraine Mazerolle, 2023. "Police stops to reduce crime: A systematic review and meta‐analysis," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(1), March.
    3. Jackson, Dylan B. & Testa, Alexander & Semenza, Daniel C. & Skinner, Rebecca & Vaughn, Michael G., 2022. "Police stops and youths’ educational expectations: Findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).

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