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What does the MAIHDA method explain?

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  • Wilkes, Rima
  • Karimi, Aryan

Abstract

Multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (MAIHDA) is a new approach to quantitative intersectional modelling. Along with an outcome of interest, MAIHDA entails the use of two sets of independent variables. These include group demographics such as race, gender, and poverty status as well as strata which are constructs such as Black female poor, Black female wealthy, and White female poor. These constructs represent the combination of the demographic variables. To operationalize the approach, an initial random intercepts model with strata as a level 2 context is specified. Then, another model is specified that includes the strata as well as the demographic variables as level 1 fixed effects. As such, it is argued that MAIHDA uniquely identifies the additive and intersectional effects for any given outcome. In this paper we show that MAIHDA falls short of this promise: the strata are an individual-level composite variable not a level 2 context. Rather than being analogous to neighborhoods as contexts, strata are analogous to socio-economic status which is a combination of individual-level demographic variables, albeit often presented as a group-level characteristic. The result is that the demographic variables are inserted in both level 2 and 1. This duplication across the levels in MAIHDA means that there is a built-in collinearity across the levels and that the models are mis-specified and, therefore, redundant. We conclude that single-level models with the demographic variables and interactions or with the strata as fixed effects are still the more accurate models for quantitative intersectional analyses.

Suggested Citation

  • Wilkes, Rima & Karimi, Aryan, 2024. "What does the MAIHDA method explain?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 345(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:345:y:2024:i:c:s0277953623008523
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116495
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Philipp Jaehn & Emily Mena & Sibille Merz & Robert Hoffmann & Antje Gößwald & Alexander Rommel & Christine Holmberg & on behalf of the ADVANCE GENDER study group, 2020. "Non-response in a national health survey in Germany: An intersectionality-informed multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Evans, Clare R. & Erickson, Natasha, 2019. "Intersectionality and depression in adolescence and early adulthood: A MAIHDA analysis of the national longitudinal study of adolescent to adult health, 1995–2008," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 1-11.
    3. Wilkes, Rima & Karimi, Aryan, 2023. "Multi-group data versus dual-side theory: On race contrasts and police-caused homicides," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    4. Zubizarreta, Dougie & Beccia, Ariel L. & Trinh, Mai-Han & Reynolds, Colleen A. & Reisner, Sari L. & Charlton, Brittany M., 2022. "Human papillomavirus vaccination disparities among U.S. college students: An intersectional Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    5. Evans, Clare R. & Williams, David R. & Onnela, Jukka-Pekka & Subramanian, S.V., 2018. "A multilevel approach to modeling health inequalities at the intersection of multiple social identities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 64-73.
    6. Anna Persmark & Maria Wemrell & Sofia Zettermark & George Leckie & S V Subramanian & Juan Merlo, 2019. "Precision public health: Mapping socioeconomic disparities in opioid dispensations at Swedish pharmacies by Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(8), pages 1-21, August.
    7. Aránzazu Hernández-Yumar & Maria Wemrell & Ignacio Abásolo Alessón & Beatriz González López-Valcárcel & George Leckie & Juan Merlo, 2018. "Socioeconomic differences in body mass index in Spain: An intersectional multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-23, December.
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