Discrimination constitutes a major risk factor for the mental health of university students, above all for those experiencing social inequality. Yet, insight into its intersectional consequences remains insufficient. The current study examines how social inequalities intersect with perceived discrimination to identify differences in mental health outcomes among students in Germany. Information drawn from the cross-sectional “Survey on study conditions and mental health of university students” (n = 14,592) was examined with Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA). Depressive symptoms, cognitive stress symptoms, and exhaustion were assessed across 48 intersectional strata constructed from gender, first academic generation, family care tasks, and perceived discrimination.
MAIHDA results showed notable variance between strata. Most of this variance stemmed from additive effects instead of intersectional interactions. Perceived discrimination, female or diverse gender, first academic generation status, and family care responsibilities (limited to exhaustion) were each related to poorer mental health. The clear links between perceived discrimination and worse mental health in university students require immediate attention and targeted measures within higher education institutions. An intersectional approach is crucial for detecting and reducing existing inequalities.
