Jewish students in Germany experience significantly greater psychological strain than their non-Jewish peers, a new study by researchers from the University of Regensburg and the Sigmund Freud Private University Berlin has revealed.
Between June and September 2024, the researchers surveyed 320 students in Germany online, 151 of whom self-identified as Jewish. They examined stress, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem using established questionnaires, as well as personally perceived antisemitism, sense of safety, Jewish identification, and connection to Israel.
Perceived antisemitism refers to respondents' personal assessment of how widespread and severe antisemitic attitudes are, based on three areas: antisemitism in German society generally, Israel-related antisemitism, and antisemitism in academic settings.
The study found that Jewish students reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress than their non-Jewish peers. The largest statistical difference appeared in anxiety. There was no difference between the groups in terms of self-esteem.
The researchers found that, even after statistically accounting for age, gender, income, political orientation, and psychiatric history, Jewish identity remained an independent predictor of all three measures of psychological strain.
Within the group of Jewish students, the researchers examined which factors were associated with psychological strain.
Perceived antisemitism had the strongest association: the more strongly respondents perceived antisemitism in society, in relation to Israel and in academic settings, the higher their levels of stress, anxiety and depression. A stronger connection to Israel was also associated with higher stress levels.
Over half surveyed said they do not feel safe as Jews in Germany
Of the Jewish students surveyed, 54.3% said they did not feel or rather did not feel safe as Jewish people in Germany, and 86.8% attributed the increase in antisemitism they perceived to the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent social and political developments.
The study revealed another noteworthy finding: The respondents' Jewish identification did not weaken as a result of antisemitism, but instead increased. This meant that the more strongly respondents perceived antisemitism, the more strongly they described their Jewish identity.
“The study suggests that psychosocial counseling centers at universities should be sensitized to identity-related stress as well as subtle forms of antisemitism,” said study lead Dr. Irina Jarvers, a clinical neuroscientist at the University of Regensburg.
Jarvers: Personal resource strengthening programs can help mitigate psychological strain
She also concluded that, since self-esteem was found to be a protective factor, programs that strengthen personal resources and coping strategies could help mitigate some of the psychological strain.
As a preventative measure, she suggested that universities explicitly address antisemitism in their diversity strategies and promote "respectful interaction" in politically charged debates.