Psychological Consequences of Social Exclusion among Marginalized Communities in India

Social exclusion remains a significant socio-psychological determinant affecting the well-being of marginalized communities in India, particularly Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other excluded groups. Despite progressive constitutional safeguards, persistent exclusionary practices based on caste and ethnicity perpetuate structural inequality and socio-emotional distress among these communities. This paper examines the psychological consequences of social exclusion in the Indian context, synthesising research from 2015 to 2025 that foregrounds mental health outcomes such as chronic stress, depression, anxiety, reduced self-esteem, internalised stigma, and impaired social functioning (Singh 2024; Chakraborty 2024; Nair 2024). Through a critical review of empirical studies and theoretical analyses, we explore how exclusionary practices in educational settings, community interactions, public spaces, and institutional engagements impinge on psychological well-being and identity formation. Recent research highlights that social exclusion is not merely an external sociopolitical phenomenon but has profound internal psychic correlates that impact emotional regulation, cognitive appraisal, and self-perceptions (Das 2023; Raval 2025; Bhardwaj 2025). For instance, studies indicate that adolescents from excluded castes experience heightened anxiety and lower self-esteem when subjected to discriminatory treatment in schools (Nair 2024), while adults evidence increased risks of mood disorders and trauma responses following recurrent exclusion (Singh 2024). Intersectional perspectives further reveal that marginalized women face compounded psychological burdens due to overlapping caste, gender, and socio-economic marginalisation (Paik 2018; Menon 2024). These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of exclusion’s psychological impact. The review positions identity threat frameworks and minority stress theories as critical analytical lenses that illuminate how chronic exposure to exclusion triggers physiological stress responses and undermines resilience (Allendorf & Thornton 2023; Raval 2025). Studies also debate coping strategies, from social support networks to community mobilisation, showing that resilient responses mitigate but do not eliminate exclusion’s psychological costs (Roy 2025; Kaur 2025). The psychological consequences of social exclusion among marginalized Indian communities are complex, deeply interlinked with socio-cultural hierarchies, and critically important for public health, educational policy, and social justice interventions. To foster inclusive psychological well-being, policies must integrate mental health frameworks with targeted anti-discrimination strategies.