An Introduction to Multilevel Modelling for Intersectionality Research: The MAIHDA Approach
Multilevel models allow researchers to analyse data with a clustered structure—for example, pupils nested within schools or individuals within neighbourhoods. Recently, a variation of multilevel modelling has been developed to study intersectional inequalities in individual outcomes. The Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) approach nests individuals within their intersectional strata—that is, their unique combination of sociodemographic identity categories, such as gender, age, ethnicity, and social class. This method holds great potential for uncovering and understanding intersectional inequalities, where multiple social identities interact in complex ways to shape societal (dis)advantages.
This free, one-day training course provided a brief introduction to multilevel modelling, followed by an overview of the intersectional MAIHDA approach. The course covered the basics of two-level random-intercept multilevel models, how to apply this model within the MAIHDA framework, key statistics generated by the approach, examples from the literature, and guidance on visualizing the results.
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/news/2025/142.html
Multilevel Models to Study Intersectionality
How can we bring intersectionality into quantitative health research? This new online resource from NCRM includes a recorded talk, a detailed write-up, and links to key materials. We explore how to move beyond single-axis approaches, discuss methodological challenges, and highlight innovative techniques for analysing health inequalities using large-scale data.
Check it out here: NCRM – Intersectionality in Quantitative Health Research
An Introduction to Multilevel Modelling for Intersectionality Research: The MAIHDA approach
In July 2024 we organised a MAIHDA training event at the university of Sheffield (deliverd by Andy Bell and George Leckie).
Multilevel models help analyse clustered data, such as pupils in schools or individuals in neighbourhoods. A new version, MAIHDA, focuses on intersectional inequalities by nesting individuals within their sociodemographic intersectional strata. This approach has potential for understanding how social identities combine to create societal advantage or disadvantage. The training course provided an introduction to multilevel modelling and the intersectional MAIHDA approach, including two-level models, applying MAIHDA, key statistics, and visualizing results. The course featured interactive lectures and practical exercises in Stata and R.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn the concepts underlying multilevel modelling
- Learn how to fit a two-level “random intercept” multilevel model, in Stata or R
- Learn the conceptual underpinning of the MAIHDA approach, incorporating intersectional theory to a multilevel modelling framework
- Learn how to fit the two models that make up the MAIHDA approach, again in Stata or R
- Learn about various potential extensions of the MAIHDA approach, with resources signposted.
Materials from this event are now available online here
Using Multilevel Models to Study Intersectionality
This short course on MAIHDA method provided an introduction to the basic method and visualisations that can be produced from it. The course was delivered in partnership with HELSI and the WRDTP.
Video: Introduction to inte-s1-full.mp4
Training slides and Practical Exercise
National Centre for Research Methods Research Methods e-Festival Event Presentations
In October 2021 we organised a session at the National Centre for Research Methods Research Methods e-Festival event which focussed on the use of multilevel models to study intersectionality. (‘Quantitative methods for the study of intersectionality and health’). Clare Evans (Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology, University of Oregon) was an invited speaker. The session explored current methods in this area, and how they might be further extended, e.g. for instance to incorporate geographical differences and temporal change.
The slides from the event are now available here
ESRC Chronic Disease Project End-of-Project Event
We held a policy-research crossover event on the topic of intersectionality and health inequalities on the 30th September 3-4:45pm.
This event reported findings from the project with a panel Q&A session, including members of the project team and our policy and practice partners.
Alan Walker, Professor of Social Policy and Social Gerontology, chaired the event.
Intersectionality has recently witnessed an explosion in interest, with claims about its transformative potential now commonplace. The pandemic has fuelled public health interest in the topic given the intersecting inequalities it has sharply exposed. This raises a number of questions:
• How workable is intersectionality in practice, and what are the barriers and challenges with its uptake?
• What is the relevance of intersectionality to understanding stark healthy ageing inequalities?
• What is the potential for an intersectional life course perspective?
In exploring these questions, we will draw from published papers and work-in-progress which cover empirical research, stakeholder perspectives and conceptual development.
The presentations from the end-of-project event are now available:
Prof. Sarah Salway: Can intersectionality help with understanding and tackling health inequalities? Video here | Slides here
Dr. Andrew Bell: Geography and intersectionality. Slides here
Dr. Daniel Holman: Intersectionality in a life course perspective. Slides here
ESRC Chronic Disease Project Webinar: How can Intersectionality Further Understanding on Health Inequalities?
Chair: Professor Gwilym Pryce (University of Sheffield)
Speakers: Dr Daniel Holman (University of Sheffield), Dr Jenny Douglas (Open University), Dr Andrew Bell (University of Sheffield), Dr Lois Orton (University of Sheffield)
Interest in intersectionality as a way to advance understanding of and action on health inequalities has exploded in recent years, with a series of high-profile papers and projects appearing across international fora. Essentially, intersectionality acknowledges that gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic position, age (and other social attributes) do not exist in isolation, but are mutually constituted, as therefore are the inequalities associated with them. These inequalities must be understood as rooted in systems of social power. Focussing on single axes of inequality does not accord with social reality, and inevitably regurgitates simplistic, ineffective policy solutions.
This panel directly engaged with the intersectionality agenda, presenting a range of (quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method) empirical and methodological work on how intersectionality can further understanding of health inequalities and how to tackle them. We considered inequalities across the life course and socio-historical contexts. Talks covered biomarkers in healthy ageing, multilevel simulation studies, mixed methods research on youth smoking, and European policy perspectives on Roma health.
Link to recording (starts at 3:40): Click here
Slides:
ESRC Chronic Disease Project Stakeholder Workshop
A project workshop was held at the University of Sheffield on May 20th 2019 on the topic of intersectionality in health inequalities research. The audience were a mixture of UK and international academics, as well as people working in the NHS, third sector organisations, local city councils and other national and local bodies.
The specific aims of the workshop were:
- To spread awareness of intersectionality and its potential for understanding/tackling health inequalities.
- To share examples of how intersectionality can be applied to health inequalities research.
- To get input from both academic and non-academic audiences on current challenges/issues in intersectionality research.
- To establish ways forward and next steps in promoting intersectional ways of thinking.
- To facilitate networking on this topic.
A summary of the workshop is available here:
Intersectional Health 