European journal of psychotraumatology
State violence, protest suppression, and trauma outcomes: a scoping review of cumulative exposure across different political contexts
By Beidollahkhani A and Ebrahimi Salari T.
Abstract
Background
State violence directed at protest movements represents a recurrent source of trauma exposure, yet research examining its psychological consequences remains fragmented across disciplines, exposure modalities, and political contexts.
Objective
This scoping review synthesises evidence on protest suppression and state violence to examine how repressive practices function as pathways to trauma-related outcomes across diverse settings.
Method
Eligible sources, including peer-reviewed empirical studies, systematic and scoping reviews, and institutional or policy documents published between January 2016 and February 2026, were mapped across six exposure domains: population-level unrest climates, protesters' direct exposure to police violence, repression technologies and injury pathways, soft repression and prolonged threat, mediated and spillover exposure, and exile and transnational repression. The evidence was synthesised narratively, with interpretation taking account of source type, study design, and the directness of mental health measurement.