Abstract
The pandemic state has a destructive effect on the human psyche and induces fear for one’s own health. By reducing the risk of severe COVID-19, vaccination may indirectly improve the mental state. This study aims to assess the effects of vaccination on respondents’ mental well-being, their attitudes towards adherence to government recommendations limiting viral transmission, and to identify factors that may influence the decision to get vaccinated. The survey took the form of the authors’ own, fully voluntary, anonymous, online questionnaire. Standardised psychometric tools were used in the survey: Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) and Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA). The survey involved 1696 respondents, the vast majority of whom were women, and were aged 18–29. The vaccination status was declared by 1677 respondents (98.9%), 430 (25.4%) of whom were vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine, while 303 (17.9%) respondents were not only unvaccinated at all, and declared no intention to get vaccinated in the future. Fully vaccinated individuals were found to have lower levels of anxiety, higher MANSA scores and lower subjective anxiety about being infected with COVID-19 than those awaiting vaccination or those with an incomplete vaccination regimen (one dose). Those who are not willing to get vaccinated have the lowest sense of anxiety and fear of being infected and they have the lowest adherence to government recommendations limiting SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination reduces the level of anxiety about being infected and anxiety due to COVID-19 disease in people from the immediate environment. Those who are not willing to get vaccinated have extreme attitudes that negate the pandemic as a whole, including the need for COVID-19 vaccination. Fully vaccinated individuals still adhere to the SARS-CoV-2 prevention policies in place.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has existed for more than a year, has become one of the biggest public health issues
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
The spectre of infection and contraction of the COVID-19 virus, the economic and social situation, as well as social isolation significantly affect the mental state, which may be manifested by an increased sense of anxiety, including generalised anxiety, and increased depressive symptoms, sleep disorders, and a sense of reduced quality of life [4]
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has existed for more than a year, has become one of the biggest public health issues. SARS-CoV-2 infection is not limited to somatic symptoms. It directly affects the central nervous system, leading to acute psychotic symptoms [3]. SARS-CoV2 infection indirectly affects the mental state. The spectre of infection and contraction of the COVID-19 virus, the economic and social situation, as well as social isolation significantly affect the mental state, which may be manifested by an increased sense of anxiety, including generalised anxiety, and increased depressive symptoms, sleep disorders, and a sense of reduced quality of life [4]. Pre-existing mental health disorder, especially depressive and anxiety disorders, is a significant factor that directly affects mental wellbeing [5,6,7]
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