Pathways between perceived discrimination and health among immigrants: evidence from a large national panel survey in Germany
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Discrimination is an important determinant of health, and its experience may contribute to the emergence of health inequalities between immigrants and nonimmigrants. We examine pathways between perceived discrimination and health among immigrants in Germany: (1) whether perceptions of discrimination predict self-reported mental and physical health (SF-12), or (2) whether poor mental and physical health predict perceptions of discrimination, and (3) whether discrimination affects physical health via mental health. DESIGN: Data on immigrants come from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) from the years 2002 to 2010 (N = 8,307), a large national panel survey. Random and fixed effects regression models have been estimated. RESULTS: Perceptions of discrimination affect mental and physical health. The effect of perceived discrimination on physical health is mediated by its effect on mental health. Our analyses do not support the notion that mental and physical health predict the subsequent reporting of discrimination. Different immigrant groups are differentially exposed to perceived discrimination. CONCLUSION: In spite of anti-discrimination laws, the health of immigrants in Germany is negatively affected by perceived discrimination. Differential exposure to perceived discrimination may be seen as a mechanism contributing to the emergence of health inequalities in Germany.
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Schunck et al. (2015) found that immigrants from Turkey, and to a lesser extent Eastern Europe/Russia, perceived more discrimination on the basis of origin than immigrants from other countries, and immigrants of lower socioeconomic status perceived more discrimination than those of higher socioeconomic status.
“For example, the results of a German study examining the effects of perceived discrimination on the basis of national origin (Schunck et al. 2015) demonstrate that immigrants from Turkey, and to a lesser extent Eastern Europe/Russia, perceived more discrimination on the basis of their origin than immigrants from other countries.In addition, immigrants of lower socioeconomic status perceived more”
From Prejudice and Discrimination Toward Immigrants (2021) · cites this paper as Schunck et al. 2015
The effects of perceived discrimination on physical health were mediated by its effects on mental health: Perceived discrimination led to poorer mental health, which in turn led to poorer physical health among immigrants in Germany.
“Of note, their findings indicate that the effects of perceived discrimination on physical health were mediated by its effects on mental health: Perceived discrimination led to poorer mental health, which in turn led to poorer physical health.”
From Prejudice and Discrimination Toward Immigrants (2021) · cites this paper as Schunck et al. 2015
The findings do not support other directions of causality, such as the possibility that poorer mental health might lead to higher reporting of perceived discrimination.
“In addition, the findings do not support other directions of causality, such as the possibility that poorer mental health might lead to higher reporting of perceived discrimination.”
From Prejudice and Discrimination Toward Immigrants (2021) · cites this paper as Schunck et al. 2015
The effects of perceived discrimination on mental health and thus physical health were not moderated by country of origin.
“Though immigrants from Turkey reported higher levels of perceived discrimination, the effects of perceived discrimination on mental health and thus physical health were not moderated by country of origin.”
From Prejudice and Discrimination Toward Immigrants (2021) · cites this paper as Schunck et al. 2015
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References 64 · Cited by 126
- Authors
- Schunck, R., Reiss, K., & Razum, O.
- Affiliations
- Bielefeld University (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Schunck, Reinhard
- Venue
- Ethnicity & Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-07-03
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 493-510
- ISSN
- 1355-7858 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3419
- OpenAlex
- W2036932775
- Cited by
- 126
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 8.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ssoar.info
- Locations
- Ethnicity and Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences) (submittedVersion)
- PUB – Publications at Bielefeld University (Bielefeld University) (submittedVersion)
- Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld (Universität Bielefeld) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Universität Bielefeld
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Keywords
- perceived discrimination, immigrants, health disparities, mental health, physical health, mediation, immigrant health, Germany, anti-discrimination law, ethnic discrimination
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Germany, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Perception, Prejudice, Models, Statistical, Emigrants and Immigrants, Health Status Disparities, Young Adult, Self Report
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