The Shield and the Storm: Black Identity As a Moderator in the Relationship between Racism-Based Police Violence and Police Contact Anxiety

Background and Purpose: Black emerging adults experience significant exposure to racism-based police violence (RPV), which may contribute to police contact anxiety (PCA). Black identity has been shown to buffer or exacerbate the psychological impact of racial stressors, yet its role in moderating the relationship between exposure to RPV and PCA remains unclear. This study examines the moderating effects of Black identity dimensions on the association between direct and indirect exposure to RPV and PCA symptoms. Methods: A purposive sample of 300 Black emerging adults (ages 18–29) from St. Louis, Missouri, completed self-report measures assessing direct and indirect RPV exposure, PCA symptoms related to victimization (PCA-Victim) and media exposure (PCA-Media) to police use-of-force, and Black identity dimensions using the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI) measure. Multiple linear regression models were conducted, controlling for demographic covariates, to assess moderating effects. Results: Direct exposure to RPV was significantly associated with higher PCA-Media symptoms, while indirect exposure was associated with greater PCA-Victim symptoms. Nationalist ideology moderated the association between direct exposure to RPV and PCA-Media, buffering anxiety at high exposure. Conversely, oppressed minority ideology moderated the relationship between indirect exposure to RPV and PCA-Victim, amplifying distress at higher exposure. Conclusion and Implications: Our findings highlight the need for culturally responsive mental health interventions and policy efforts aimed at mitigating the psychological impact of racialized policing.