Exposure to potentially morally injurious events: the impact on service police and non-service police veterans

Abstract

Current research on moral injury (MI) has been criticised for perpetuating a reductionist approach that underestimates the complexity of morality and role of both individual and contextual influences in the development of, and recovery from, MI. There is also limited research within the UK context using specific military cohorts such as Service Police (SP) veterans who may be particularly at-risk of exposure to Potentially Morally Injurious Events (PMIEs). Using a mixed-methodological approach, this PhD programme aimed to corroborate and extend previous research to investigate the experience and impact of PMIE exposure between SP and Non-SP (NSP) veterans. The research questions addressed were: (i) types of PMIEs encountered by both veteran groups (and underlying moral values violated), (ii) short-and-long-term impact of PMIE exposure, (iii) strategies used to cope with PMIEs, and (iv) risk and protective factors influencing this process. Qualitative interviews were conducted (Phase One) and analysed using Thematic Analysis, followed by a quantitative survey (Phase Two) analysed using various descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Convergent findings across both phases revealed broad similarity between the veteran groups related to PMIE exposure involving self-or-other-transgressions of moral values (i.e., loyalty, integrity, discipline, and human empathy) and complex presentations of both negative and positive MI-related outcomes. Use of moral engagement and disengagement coping strategies (alongside formal and informal support), together with shared and independent risk and protective factors implicated in the experience and impact of PMIE exposure were also included. This PhD research represents the first time that PMIE exposure was investigated and compared between UK SP and NSP veterans, providing novel insight into the instillation and violation of values underlying PMIE exposure, the complex manifestation and management of moral dissonance, and subsequent recommendations for future research to adopt a value-centric and holistic approach to MI prevention and intervention.

Date of Award	19 Feb 2026
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Gavin Oxburgh (Supervisor) & Laura Dominique (Supervisor)