Psychological impact of cross‐examination on forensic scientists: A mixed‐methods study of courtroom stress

Abstract

This mixed‐methods research examines the emotional and cognitive impact of courtroom testimony when conducted by forensic professionals in Pakistan. In this study, 10 practitioners of different forensic fields were interviewed semi‐structurally, and 120 respondents were used to complete a structured questionnaire. The findings of the qualitative approach revealed that there was anticipatory anxiety prior to testifying, physical symptoms of being shaky and unable to sleep, and long‐term emotional exhaustion. As a consequence, the professionals reported reduced confidence. Most interviewees noted that they felt unsupported and at the mercy of conflicting lawyers when being cross‐examined. To endorse these results, the quantitative analysis found a high correlation between courtroom anxiety and psychological distress, and low use of coping strategies. Regression analysis highlighted that the greater the professional experience and previous courtroom training, the less stress he/she had and the more coping mechanisms were used, with demographic factors having relatively little influence. Lack of institutional support procedures that are formal endangers professionals to burnout and can lower their quality in testimonial services, which may affect the credibility of the judicial process. The results indicate that resilience training, formal debriefing, and supervision support should be used in forensic institutions to guarantee the well‐being of practitioners and maintain the quality of courtroom evidence.