From protection to self-reliance: media exposure to police use-of-force and Its impact on black emerging adult women

This study examined the mediating role of perceived police legitimacy in the relationship between exposure to videos of police use-of-force and personal safety behaviors among Black emerging adult women. Using surveys from 152 participants, findings showed that greater exposure to police use-of-force videos was associated with decreased reliance on police for personal safety, and this relationship was mediated by perceptions of police legitimacy. Path analysis revealed that perceptions of police as less legitimate led to greater reliance on self or others for safety. These results highlight the impact of media exposure on trust in police and personal safety strategies.