The Relationship Between Police Encounters and Anxiety Levels Among Urban Black Males Aged 18–40

This quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study examined the relationship between police encounter characteristics and anxiety symptoms among urban Black males aged 18–40 in the United States. Although prior research has documented racial disparities in police contact and adverse mental health outcomes, limited empirical work has examined how multiple dimensions of police encounters jointly relate to anxiety within this population. Guided by Critical Race Theory, the study assessed whether the frequency, severity, and perceived fairness of police encounters were associated with self-reported anxiety symptoms. Data were collected from 138 self-identified urban Black males using a nonprobability, self-selected sampling approach. Participants completed an anonymous online survey that included the Police Encounters and Distress Scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder–7. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the unique and combined associations between police encounter characteristics and anxiety symptoms. Results indicated that encounter frequency, severity, and perceived unfairness were significantly associated with higher anxiety symptoms. When examined simultaneously, these factors accounted for approximately 32% of the variance in anxiety symptoms, with perceived unfairness showing the strongest unique association. Findings underscore the relevance of policing experiences in mental health research and have implications for clinical assessment, community-based interventions, and discussions of procedural justice in law enforcement.