Perceived discrimination and mental health in Germany: increasing attention, but persistent gaps

Discrimination is a risk factor for adverse mental health. Regional examinations are necessary to account for the sociocultural context that shapes lived experiences of marginalized groups. This meta-analytic review examined how multiple forms of discrimination are considered in German mental health research and analyzed the relationship of perceived discrimination with depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms (i=36 studies; N=45,527). Discrimination was significantly associated with depressive (r=0.26, p<.001) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (r=0.23, p<.01). Subgroup analyses revealed a smaller effect size for studies which examined discrimination based on mental health vs. other forms of discrimination. Frequency of published reports has increased over the past 20 years (b=0.27, p<.001), but data gaps for several populations, discrimination forms and validated measures continue to exist. The findings emphasize the need for improved methodological assessment and broader inclusion of discrimination in German mental health research along with targeted interventions to reduce its impact.