System avoidance and social isolation: Mechanisms connecting police contact and deleterious health outcomes

Citation

Carbonaro, Richard (2022). System avoidance and social isolation: Mechanisms connecting police contact and deleterious health outcomes. Social Science & Medicine. vol. 301

Abstract

A growing body of literature suggests even routine or low-level contact with the criminal justice system impacts health outcomes. In this paper, I examine two mechanisms by which police contact contributes to deleterious health outcomes: system avoidance and social isolation. I use data from 12,016 respondents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a longitudinal and nationally representative sample. Findings suggest system avoidance may be an important mechanism by which police stops shape health outcomes. Whether social isolation serves as a mechanism varies based on how it is measured. Results suggest police stops are associated with subjective feelings of loneliness, which in turn explained some of the association between police stops and health outcomes. Notably, women were more likely to exhibit system avoidance and poor health following police contact compared to men.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114883

Keyword(s)

Social determinants of health

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Social Science & Medicine

Author(s)

Carbonaro, Richard

Year Published

2022

Volume Number

301

DOI

10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114883

Reference ID

9660