September 21, 2021
New study explores impact of police action on population health
Policing and exposures to law enforcement impact the population health of a community, a new University of Washington-led study demonstrates. The research study shows how policing influences the health and wellbeing of communities in complex ways that have short- and long-term consequences.
The researchers conceptualize how incidents involving police, whether indirect or direct, lead to a series of effects on individuals, the community, and the broader systems in which they reside. Collectively, these effects involve a “bidirectional” relationship between policing and population health.
The research study maps out the intersectional nature of these outcomes, implicating the community’s social, economic, structural, and mental health. This analysis will be helpful in further population health research across disciplines, effectively demonstrating how intersectional and interdisciplinary the field of population health is.