Loyalembi Thangjam and Gangmumei Kamei
Manipur University, Imphal, Manipur
Pages: 220-228
Police work is characterised by occupational danger, exposure to potentially traumatic
events, irregular working hours, shift duties, and unpredictable demands. Although
substantial research has examined the psychological consequences of policing for
police officers, comparatively little attention has been given to children who grow up
with a police parent. The present narrative review synthesises available literature
concerning the psychological, emotional, family, social, and educational experiences
of children of police. Literature published primarily between 2015 and 2026 was
considered, with selected earlier studies included when they provided important
foundational evidence. Because direct research involving police officers’ children is
limited, evidence was considered at three levels: studies directly examining children of
police officers; studies examining children of public safety personnel; and studies
examining police-family functioning that may indirectly influence children. A major
limitation of the existing literature is the scarcity of direct, child-centred research,
particularly longitudinal, developmental, and culturally diverse studies. Research from
India is especially limited. The review argues for greater attention to children’s own
voices and recommends future research examining perceived parental safety, anxiety,
parent-child relationships, academic functioning, peer experiences, occupational
identity, and resilience. Understanding policing as a family and developmental experience
may assist psychologists, schools, police organisations, and policymakers in developing
more appropriate support systems for police families