Trauma in the courtroom: the role of prior trauma exposure and mental health on stress and emotional responses in jurors

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dc.contributor.authorBrooks, Matthew
dc.contributor.authorGlynn, Jessica
dc.contributor.authorFawcett, Hannah
dc.contributor.authorBarnes, Aminah
dc.contributor.authorCarew, Rachael
dc.contributor.authorErrickson, David
dc.contributor.authorLivanou, Maria
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-07T14:16:04Z
dc.date.available2025-01-07T14:16:04Z
dc.date.issued2024-12-23
dc.date.pubOnline2024-12-23
dc.description.abstractObjectives Prior research indicates that jury duty can be distressing for some jurors. This study examined: (1) the influence of prior trauma characteristics (type, exposure, time since trauma), medical fear and mental health difficulties on stress and emotional responses during a mock trial and 1 week later; and (2) associations between early stress reactions during a trial on subsequent stress and emotional reactivity after exposure to skeletal evidence and 1 week later. Methods Mock jurors (n = 180) completed baseline self‐report mental health measures, read a summary of a murder case and were then exposed to graphic skeletal evidence. Stress and/or emotional responses were collected at baseline, after reading the case summary, before and after viewing the skeletal evidence and 7 days post‐trial. Results Participants reported a wide range of prior traumatic experiences, with nearly half reporting pre‐existing mental health difficulties. Average traumatic stress symptoms tripled from baseline to follow‐up, with 44% of participants meeting PTSD‐type criteria 7 days later. Medical fear and mental health difficulties were positively associated with some stress and/or emotional responses throughout the trial, with mixed findings concerning trauma characteristics, stress and emotional reactivity. Initial stress and emotional responses to case evidence were linked to later stress and emotional reactions, after accounting for pre‐existing trauma and mental health characteristics. Conclusions Past trauma experiences, mental health difficulties and immediate stress responses during a trial can exacerbate emotional and stress reactions. Addressing the psychological impacts of pre‐existing trauma symptoms could improve juror well‐being during this important civic duty.
dc.description.journalNameBritish Journal of Clinical Psychology
dc.description.sponsorshipBritish Academy
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was funded by a grant from the British Academy (SG2122\210569).
dc.format.mediumPrint-Electronic
dc.identifier.citationBrooks M, Glynn J, Fawcett H, et al., (2024) Trauma in the courtroom: the role of prior trauma exposure and mental health on stress and emotional responses in jurors. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, Available online 23 December 2024
dc.identifier.eissn2044-8260
dc.identifier.elementsID561009
dc.identifier.issn0144-6657
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12522
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/23318
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherWiley
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject5203 Clinical and Health Psychology
dc.subject52 Psychology
dc.subjectDepression
dc.subjectClinical Research
dc.subjectMental Health
dc.subjectPhysical Injury - Accidents and Adverse Effects
dc.subjectBrain Disorders
dc.subjectBasic Behavioral and Social Science
dc.subjectMind and Body
dc.subjectPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
dc.subjectBehavioral and Social Science
dc.subjectAnxiety Disorders
dc.subjectMental Illness
dc.subjectClinical Trials and Supportive Activities
dc.subject2.3 Psychological, social and economic factors
dc.subjectMental health
dc.subject3 Good Health and Well Being
dc.subjectjurors
dc.subjectjury duty
dc.subjectmental health
dc.subjectstress
dc.subjecttrauma
dc.subjectClinical Psychology
dc.subject5201 Applied and developmental psychology
dc.subject5203 Clinical and health psychology
dc.subject5205 Social and personality psychology
dc.titleTrauma in the courtroom: the role of prior trauma exposure and mental health on stress and emotional responses in jurors
dc.typeArticle
dc.type.subtypeJournal Article
dcterms.coverageEngland
dcterms.dateAccepted2024-11-19

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