Moral Injuries in Police Cohorts: The known and unknowns.
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
| 4:23 PM - 4:24 PM |
Speaker
Miss Christine Foley
Phd Student
Griffith University
Moral Injuries in Police Cohorts: The known and unknowns.
Abstract Document
Police work is considered a high-risk occupation for psychological injuries resulting from the prevalence of detrimental occupational psychosocial hazards within police workplaces. Despite this, more research is needed to fully understand what type of hazards most contribute to psychological distress and/or injuries within police cohorts. This research focuses on psychosocial hazards, understood as potentially morally injurious events (PMIE). A systematic quantitative literature review (SQLR) was undertaken, identifying all relevant empirical research published between 2000 and March 2025 that has examined PMIE, moral distress and moral with police populations.
Prior to the year 2018, very little research has been undertaken on PMIEs, moral distress or moral injury in police populations. Up to this time, only assumptions could be made as to the relevance and transferability of findings from primarily military contexts to the police workplace. The small and emerging body of research identified through the SQLR indicates that moral injury and its associated concepts have significant and important relevance to police. As such, the purpose of the review was to provide a contemporary understanding of what behaviours and/or situations are defined as potentially morally injurious events (PMIE) in policing and to collate data and insights into the prevalence, causes and consequences of moral distress and moral injuries for this occupational group.
The review identified that moral injuries are a significant concern within police work, arising from frequent exposure to PMIEs. These findings can be applied to further research, with an aim to identify the actual prevalence rates of moral injuries within police and identify the behaviours or actions of a PMIE. This is important research, as understanding these contributing factors, is essential to developing targeted interventions and ensuring that police personnel receive appropriate recognition and treatment for moral injuries, distinct from other forms of psychological distress.
Prior to the year 2018, very little research has been undertaken on PMIEs, moral distress or moral injury in police populations. Up to this time, only assumptions could be made as to the relevance and transferability of findings from primarily military contexts to the police workplace. The small and emerging body of research identified through the SQLR indicates that moral injury and its associated concepts have significant and important relevance to police. As such, the purpose of the review was to provide a contemporary understanding of what behaviours and/or situations are defined as potentially morally injurious events (PMIE) in policing and to collate data and insights into the prevalence, causes and consequences of moral distress and moral injuries for this occupational group.
The review identified that moral injuries are a significant concern within police work, arising from frequent exposure to PMIEs. These findings can be applied to further research, with an aim to identify the actual prevalence rates of moral injuries within police and identify the behaviours or actions of a PMIE. This is important research, as understanding these contributing factors, is essential to developing targeted interventions and ensuring that police personnel receive appropriate recognition and treatment for moral injuries, distinct from other forms of psychological distress.
Biography
Christine Foley is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at James Cook University, Mount Isa, Australia and a PhD student at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. She is a practicing Psychologist and has a Masters in Forensic Mental Health. Christine has over 20 years’ experience working with police as a practitioner and is interested in psychosocial risk management as a prevention strategy for police officer wellbeing.
