Discrimination, defined as the unfair treatment of groups based on intrinsic characteristics, has pervasive and long-lasting consequences for the individuals who experience it. Previous research has found that individuals who experience discrimination have worsened physical and mental health outcomes (Williams et al., 2019; Schmitt et al., 2014; Benner et al., 2018). Furthermore, Schmitt et al. (2014) find that there is a stronger relationship between discrimination and poor wellbeing for children than for adults. Young people’s self-esteem and identities are continually developing at this stage, and discrimination may have a broader impact on their development (Marks et al., 2015).

This research fills an identified gap in studying discrimination using the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) data (Philippe et al., 2025). GUI is a longitudinal study of children and their families in Ireland. We focus on Cohort ’98, born in 1998, and explore their experiences of discrimination at the key development periods of age 17 and 25. Discrimination is measured in this research through perceived discrimination, the individual’s perception that they are treated less favourably than others (Paradies, 2006). The GUI dataset collects this using the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS) (Williams et al., 1997).