Emotional Pathways To Trauma: Racialized Policing And Psychological Distress In Black Adolescent Males

Author

Rochelle S. Parrish, Prairie View A&M University

Date of Award

8-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Degree Discipline

Clinical Adolescent Psychology

Abstract

Introduction: Black American males, including adolescents, are disproportionately subjected to aggressive policing, often without criminal wrongdoing (Geller et al., 2014; Sewell et al., 2016). These encounters are frequently described as traumatic, marked by fear, loss, and emotional disruption (Smith Lee & Robinson, 2019). Whether direct or vicarious, such experiences can produce lasting psychological effects, particularly among Black boys who face compounded vulnerability from racialized surveillance and community-level trauma (DeVylder et al., 2018; Smith & Patton, 2016). Proactive policing tactics, such as investigatory stops and verbal aggression, have been linked to symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including hypervigilance, avoidance, and emotional dysregulation (Bor et al., 2018; Bryant-Davis et al., 2017). Despite increased attention to police violence, emotional mechanisms underlying non-lethal encounters remain underexplored. Method: This study integrated Critical Race Theory and Vile Vigilance into a mediation model assessing emotional responses to policing. Using secondary data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), the sample included 365 Black males ages 15–18 (M = 15.74, SD = .746). Measures included self-reported police contact, emotional responses such as anger, fear, perceived safety, and trauma symptoms. Results: Investigatory stops and verbal aggression were significantly associated with increased trauma symptoms. Fear and anger mediated the effects of investigatory actions, while verbal aggression maintained a direct impact on trauma beyond emotional mediation. Use of force did not significantly predict trauma when emotional distress was accounted for, suggesting psychological impact may hinge more on perception than physicality. Conclusion: Findings reinforce prior research linking law enforcement actions to psychological distress and offer new insight into how emotional responses shape trauma outcomes among Black boys (McLeod et al., 2022). This study underscores the psychological toll of racialized policing and highlights the need for trauma-informed practices, culturally competent mental health care, and community-based strategies to mitigate harm and foster healing.

Keywords: African American youth, African American males, mental health, law enforcement contact, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, law-enforcement-community relations

Committee Chair/Advisor

Stacie DeFreitas

Committee Member

Temilola Salami

Committee Member

Logan Yelderman

Publisher

Hotline Press Newspaper

Rights

© 2021 Prairie View A & M University

Date of Digitization

12/10/2025

Contributing Institution

J. B . Coleman Library

City of Publication

Hempstead

MIME Type

Application/PDF

Recommended Citation

Parrish, R. (2025). Emotional Pathways To Trauma: Racialized Policing And Psychological Distress In Black Adolescent Males. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/pvamu-theses/1659