Diversity-related stress and fatigue among higher education students: the roles of cynicism and diversity climate

Diversity-related stress is becoming an important concern in higher education as universities become increasingly diverse. However, little is known about how perceived diversity stress develops into diversity fatigue or the psychological and contextual factors that influence this relationship. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study examines the relationship between perceived diversity stress and diversity fatigue among university students, while investigating the mediating role of organisational cynicism and the moderating role of diversity climate. Data were collected from 202 undergraduate and postgraduate students using a two-wave time-lagged design with a 21-day interval. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed model. The results show that perceived diversity stress has a positive effect on diversity fatigue. Organisational cynicism significantly mediates this relationship, indicating that students experiencing diversity-related stress are more likely to develop cynical attitudes, which in turn increase diversity fatigue. In addition, diversity climate weakens the positive relationship between perceived diversity stress and diversity fatigue. The study extends diversity climate research by explaining both the psychological process and the contextual condition through which diversity stress influences diversity fatigue. The findings provide practical guidance for universities to develop more inclusive environments that reduce stress, limit cynicism, and strengthen students’ well-being.