Istanbul Gelisim University - Psychological impact of vaccination: 20 percent reduction in depression and anxiety disorders

Psychological impact of vaccination: 20 percent reduction in depression and anxiety disorders

Studies have shown that depressive mood and anxiety disorders, which occur in the pandemic, are reduced by 4 to 20 percent in people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Making evaluations on the subject, Clinical Psychologist Ünal Erdem Elli says that this situation is related to "a person’s feeling about themselves and their environment".

According to a study conducted at the University of Southern California, it has been found out that after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, people are less likely to feel very depressed by 15 percent, and are less likely to feel only mildly depressed by 4 percent. Based on the data, the researchers also estimate that 1 million people are likely to experience a reduction in mental distress after being vaccinated. Making evaluations on the subject, Istanbul Gelisim University Department of Social Services Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist Ünal Erdem Elli says, “One of the most fundamental conflicts of human beings from the moment they are born is about whether the outside world and the people around them are safe. These basic and critical conflicts have been triggered since the beginning of the pandemic. People find themselves in an environment where they are already insecure and vulnerable to threats from other people. We see that they start to show more intense complaints in anxiety and depression-related disorders. A lot of research today has shown us that anxiety and depression-related disorders are starting to emerge more intensely than before the pandemic."

10 TO 20 PERCENT REDUCTION IN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY SYMPTOMS

“Immunization is a recipe for salvation. The most reasonable and effective solution that people can find to combat this epidemic is vaccination. Vaccination itself has shown us that people have recently decreased the frequency of symptoms related to depression and anxiety,” says Elli and continues his words as follows:

“As measured by one group of researchers at different time intervals, it is found out that people’s symptoms of depression and anxiety have decreased between 4 and 10 percent compared to pre-vaccination measurements, in another research conducted by another group of researchers the rate is between 10 percent and 20 percent. In fact, this is a very understandable, reasonable situation. Because people feel safer. This does not mean that they have loosened their precautions or returned to living as they lived before. They just aren't as concerned as they used to be about the repercussions of a virus that they could catch or infect while sitting or talking to someone. This is a very important thing because it is a critical issue that it poses a threat not only to themselves, but also to their relatives.”

SOCIAL MEDIA’S EFFECT ON AGAINST ANTI-VACCINATION

Pointing out that adolescents are ahead in opposition to vaccination, Elli said, “Fewer adolescents and young people prefer to be vaccinated. The most basic thing seen at this point is; people experience the threat to their safety differently in different age groups. Therefore, teens do not feel threatened. In fact, social media habits are also critical here. Social media habits among age groups should also be taken into account. We know that every group of people has a social media reality in which it interacts in its inner world. A significant number of the people in these groups are not very competent at judging which are reliable sources. This plays an important role in the anti-vaccine movement.”

“I FEEL SAFE, I FEEL SAFE IN CROWDS”

Citizens who think that both themselves and their loved ones are safer after vaccination, also draw attention to mask, hygiene and social distance rules. Telling that she has had 3 doses of vaccine, Gonca Gül Karasu says, “I feel very safe. Good thing I've been vaccinated. I can easily walk around the crowd, I am fearless. But I still pay attention to the mask, hygiene and social distance rules.”
Mümtaz Kaymak says, “I feel very well psychologically. We already know all the scientists and doctors say we need to be vaccinated.”
Berrin Sula says, “I was very relieved psychologically. I start to think that I guess I won't be sick. However, I got COVID-19 after vaccination. But I quickly recovered. Then I begin to live my life again. I wear my mask in crowds, but I take it off in secluded places because this is a virus that is transmitted from person to person.”

“PEOPLE IMAGINE THE WORST”

Berat Narin says, “I think people are making delusions. I've had 2 doses of the vaccine and have had no problems, I feel good in every way. With the ease of this, we act indifferently and go out and mingle in the crowds. However, we paid attention to our mask, social distance, cleaning and we still are.”

“WE ARE OBLIGATED”

İsmet Turan says, “We have had our vaccinations, but I am not very aware of what is going on. We were vaccinated not to be sick, but we felt psychologically obligated to do so. There are many concerns. We don't know if it was a good or bad decision.”