Intersecting Inequities: Racism-Based Police Violence and Mental Health Correlates Among Black and Hispanic Emerging Adults With Disabilities

Abstract

Black and Hispanic emerging adults disproportionately experience racism and police violence, yet little is known about how racism-based police violence (RPV) affects those living with disabilities. This study examines the prevalence of direct and indirect RPV exposure (victim, in-person witness, and media) and its associations with psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among Black and Hispanic emerging adults with disabilities in the United States. Data were drawn from a national nonprobability sample of 934 participants ages 18 to 29. Using linear and logistic regression analyses adjusting for sociodemographic factors and everyday discrimination, we assessed the independent and interactive effects of RPV exposure and disability status (sensory, physical, cognitive, double, and triple disabilities). Results indicated that all RPV exposure types were significantly associated with greater psychological distress, while only RPV-Witness and RPV-Media exposure were associated with increased odds of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Cognitive, double, and triple disabilities were robust predictors of heightened psychological distress and suicide risk across models. Although several attenuated effects emerged for psychological distress, no significant interactions between RPV exposure and disability status were observed for suicide-related outcomes. These findings underscore the compounded vulnerability faced by Black and Hispanic emerging adults with disabilities and highlight the urgent need for intersectional research and trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health services. Public health and violence prevention efforts should prioritize disability-inclusive strategies to reduce inequities associated with racialized policing.

Keywords

racism police violence disability mental health suicide risk

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