Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 2, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Intersectionality: Social Marginalisation and Self-Reported Health Status in Young People
Fiona Robards1, Melissa Kang1,2, Georgina Luscombe3
1Department of General Practice, Westmead Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia.
Background:
The aim of this study was to measure young people's health status and explore associations between health status and belonging to one or more socio-culturally marginalised group.
Methods:
part of the Access 3 project, this cross-sectional survey of young people aged 12-24 years living in New South Wales, Australia, oversampled young people from one or more of the following groups: Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander; living in rural and remote areas; homeless; refugee; and/or, sexuality and/or gender diverse. This paper reports on findings pertaining to health status, presence of chronic health conditions, psychological distress, and wellbeing measures.
Results:
1416 participants completed the survey; 897 (63.3%) belonged to at least one marginalised group; 574 (40.5%) to one, 281 (19.8%) to two and 42 (3.0%) to three or four groups. Belonging to more marginalised groups was significantly associated with having more chronic health conditions (p = 0.001), a greater likelihood of high psychological distress (p = 0.001) and of illness or injury related absence from school or work (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
increasing marginalisation is associated with decreasing health status. Using an intersectional lens can to be a useful way to understand disadvantage for young people belonging to multiple marginalised groups.
Related Concept Videos
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Dimensions of Health and Illness
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects

