Previous experiences of discrimination impact college students’ mental health and treatment outcomes at university counseling centers

AI Summary

Students reporting recent discrimination presented with more severe psychological symptoms at intake, including increased suicidal ideation, compared to those without discrimination.
Students who experienced discrimination showed smaller reductions in academic distress and internalised symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, by treatment end.
Experiencing discrimination across multiple identity facets amplified baseline symptom severity, but did not further worsen treatment outcomes relative to single-facet discrimination.

J Couns Psychol. 2026 Jun 25. doi: 10.1037/cou0000883. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Despite efforts to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging on college campuses in recent years, students with minority statuses (i.e., stigmatized identities based on race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, religion, etc.) continue to encounter identity-based discrimination. A robust body of literature has established that discriminatory experiences are related to poor mental health and academic outcomes in minoritized college students. However, among students who decide to seek treatment, it remains unclear how discrimination experiences might contribute to presenting distress and treatment outcomes. The present study used multivariate analyses to examine the differences in multiple domains of psychological symptoms at intake and at the end of treatment between students who reported discriminatory experiences in the past 6 months compared to those who did not. Data were collected through the Center for Collegiate Mental Health between July 2021 and June 2023 (N = 45,778). At intake, students who experienced discrimination reported more severe psychological symptoms, including suicidal ideation, compared to students who did not experience discrimination. These students also experienced less reduction in academic distress and internalized symptoms (i.e., depression and anxiety) at the end of treatment. Importantly, when clients experienced discrimination against multiple versus a singular facet of their identity (e.g., race and gender), the negative impact on their baseline symptoms was amplified, but this effect was not found in treatment outcome. We discuss the clinical implications of these findings and future directions for research and clinical practice in light of intersectionality theory. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:42347785 | DOI:10.1037/cou0000883

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