An Exploration of Police Violence as a Determinant of Adolescent Health

Abstract

Structural Racism—the totality of ways through which our society has codified and normalized theunequal allocation of resources and opportunities by race—is a fundamental driver of many persistent inequities in maternal and child health. As health services researchers begin to focus more attention on describing links between structural racism and health inequities, it is vital that we consider the potential impacts of social and institutional factors. This dissertation investigates both immediate and potential life course implications of one specific institution: policing. Emerging public health research has highlighted the potential impacts of police violence on population health and health inequities. This dissertation focuses on an issue that has gotten less attention: routine police stops. These stops are a core facet of current policing strategies, but research has not examined the full impact of these interactions—especially in the lives of young people. The first study in this dissertation investigates the potential impacts these interactions between youth and police may have on positive adolescent functioning. The second study explores the potential mental health impacts of these contacts. The third aim explores whether changes in health service utilization behavior are a potential spillover of youth police interactions.