Utilizing a Mediation-Moderation Model to Examine Exposure to Videos of Police use of Force in Media, Police Contact Anxiety, Grit, and Suicidality among Black Emerging adult College Students.

Objective: Suicidality (thinking about, planning, and attempt) has become a national growing public health concern for Black emerging adult college students in America due to increased rates among this population. The goal of the current cross-sectional study is to examine the mediating role of police contact anxiety (PCA) and moderating role of grit in the relationship between exposure to videos of police use of force in media and suicidality. Method: Computer assisted surveys were administered to a sample (N = 300) of Black emerging adult college students 18 to 29 years of age. Results: Mediation analysis revealed that the effect of exposure to videos of police use of force in media on suicidality was at least partially mediated by PCA, and moderation analyses found that medium and high levels of grit buffered the relationship between exposure to videos of police use of force in media and suicidality such that exposure to videos of police use of force only predicted suicidality at a low-level of grit. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the relationship between exposure to videos of police use of force in media and suicidality as influenced by PCA and grit. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.