Possible contribution of COVID-19 vaccination to the subsequent mental well-being in Japan

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a severe impact on mental well-being. Vaccination may have played a pivotal role in enduring this mental health crisis. The present study aimed to longitudinally investigate the association between COVID-19 vaccination and mental health status among Japanese population in 2021. Longitudinal data of 17,089 individuals aged 15–79 years who participated in a nationwide online study were analyzed. Baseline and follow-up mental health statuses were assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). General linear and multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for baseline levels of mental distress were used to examine the association between vaccine receipt and follow-up levels of mental health. Mean K6 scores were lower in the vaccinated than in the non-vaccinated participants. Those who had received one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccines were associated with improved mental health at follow-up in subjects with psychological distress at baseline (odds ratio [OR] 1.31 and 1.35, respectively) and were inversely associated with deteriorated mental health status at follow-up in subjects without psychological distress at baseline (OR 0.66 and 0.70, respectively) compared with no vaccination groups, respectively. The present study would indicate that one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccinations contributed to mental well-being in Japan. This finding might provide evidence for promoting vaccination against COVID-19 and emerging infectious diseases in the future.

The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression before and after COVID-19 Vaccines Were Universally Available for Adults in the United States

“…This is consistent with research among adults in Jordan which found that anxiety symptoms decreased significantly postvaccination among individuals experiencing mild to severe anxiety before COVID-19 vaccination, with greater reductions among those with moderate or severe anxiety compared to mild anxiety [24]. Similarly, among a national cohort of adults in Japan, COVID-19 vaccination was associated with improved mental health among those who reported psychological distress before vaccination [23]. Additional research is needed to better understand the mental health impact of COVID-19 vaccination among individuals with mental health symptoms prior to vaccination.…”

“…Little remains known about the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and mental health, and evidence suggests that holding ambivalent attitudes toward vaccination may be related to poor mental health [19,20]. For some, the negative effects of the pandemic on mental health may be reduced with vaccination and the possibility of reduced social isolation and increasing population immunity that comes with vaccination [21][22][23]. This may be particularly relevant for those with greater fear or anxiety related to COVID-19 exposure or illness or for those at greater risk for severe COVID-19 illness [21,23,24].…”

“…For some, the negative effects of the pandemic on mental health may be reduced with vaccination and the possibility of reduced social isolation and increasing population immunity that comes with vaccination [21][22][23]. This may be particularly relevant for those with greater fear or anxiety related to COVID-19 exposure or illness or for those at greater risk for severe COVID-19 illness [21,23,24]. For others, vaccine hesitancy and concerns related to the perceived safety or efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine may be associated with increased mental distress after vaccination [25].…”

Predictors of somatic symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national longitudinal survey in Japan

“…In our models, the following parameters were included age, sex, marital status, educational attainment, smoking status, habitual alcohol intake, number of COVID-19 vaccinations, FCV-19S score, K6 score, comorbidities, household income and participation in the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS) 2022. 20 In the JASTIS project, the invitation to JASTIS 2023 was addressed primarily to the participants of JASTIS 2022. Furthermore, the invitation was also addressed to former JACSIS participants to attain a designated sample size because the sample selection of the JACSIS and JASTIS were similar.…”

A prospective cohort study in depression and anxiety among Vietnamese migrants in Japan during the early to mid-COVID-19 pandemic

“…A survey of 3 million U.S. adults conducted between April 2020 and August 2022 found that levels of anxiety and depression were highest in late 2020, followed by anxiety and depression beginning to decline in early 2021 [ 11 ]. In addition, a longitudinal study of mental health in the Japanese population in 2021 reported that the number of people who were worried about COVID-19 infection decreased from April to June 2021 to October to December 2021 [ 12 ]. However, there are no studies that quantitatively evaluate the mental health status of migrants living in Japan.…”