Skip to main content

BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article

Front. Psychiatry, 09 August 2022
Sec. Anxiety and Stress Disorders
This article is part of the Research Topic Assessing and Evaluating the Impact Of The Covid 19 Pandemic on Anxiety And Stress: A Global Perspective View all 16 articles

The association of COVID-19 vaccine availability with mental health among adults in the United States

\nChan Shen*&#x;Chan Shen1*Lucy RashiwalaLucy Rashiwala2R. Constance WienerR. Constance Wiener3Patricia A. FindleyPatricia A. Findley4Hao WangHao Wang5Usha SambamoorthiUsha Sambamoorthi2
  • 1Departments of Surgery and Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
  • 2Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
  • 3Department of Dental Public Health and Professional Practice, School of Dentistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
  • 4Rutgers School of Social Work, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
  • 5Department of Emergency Medicine, JPS Health Network, Integrative Emergency Services, Fort Worth, TX, United States

Objective: To assess whether COVID-19 vaccine approval and availability was associated with reduction in the prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults in the United States.

Methods: We adopted cross sectional and quasi-experimental design with mental health measurements before vaccine availability (June 2020, N = 68,009) and after vaccine availability (March 2021, N = 63,932) using data from Census Pulse Survey. Depression and anxiety were derived from PHQ-2 and GAD-2 questionnaires. We compared rates of depression and anxiety between June 2020 and March 2021. Unadjusted and adjusted analysis with replicate weights were conducted.

Results: Depression prevalence was 25.0% in June 2020 and 24.6% in March 2021; anxiety prevalence was 31.7% in June 2020 and 30.0% in March 2021 in the sample. In adjusted analysis, there were no significant differences in likelihood of depression and anxiety between June 2020 and March 2021.

Conclusion: Depression and anxiety were not significantly different between June 2020 and March 2021, which suggests that the pandemic effect continues to persist even with widespread availability of vaccines.

Introduction

The year 2020 brought unprecedented situations around the globe. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many households faced isolation, fear, violence, drug abuse, and anxiety. The pandemic has impacted every aspect of society resulting in economic uncertainty, limited interpersonal connections, mortality, drug abuse, and social disruption. Furthermore, America has faced riots, protests, police brutality, and political divisiveness as well (1). In April 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020) reported a record-high unemployment rate of 14.7% (2). As of June, 2022, more than one million deaths have been reported due to COVID-19 in the US (3).

Numerous studies in the literature have examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Two meta-analyses found that prevalence rates of depression and anxiety increased substantially during the COVID-19 outbreak (4, 5). One of them covered 12 studies with sample sizes ranging from 600 to 7,236 participants, and the pooled prevalence of depression was 25% during the COVID-19 outbreak, which is 7 times higher than the global estimated prevalence of depression of 3.44% in 2017 (4). The other meta-analysis paper covering 14 studies on the prevalence of depression with a sample size of 44,531 people, found an even higher prevalence rate of depression at 33.7% during COVID-19 (5). That study also examined prevalence of anxiety using 17 studies with a sample size of 63,439 and estimated the prevalence rate of anxiety to be also very high at 31.9% during COVID-19 (5).

Several studies have further researched the relationship between mental health during the pandemic and multiple factors such as government role, food insufficiency, housing, and income level (68). However, few studies considered the impact of vaccine availability and whether it helps reduce mental stress. One study on chronic kidney disease patients found that COVID-19 vaccination improved anxiety and depression in this special group of patients (9). However, there is significant skepticism about COVID-19 vaccine and it is unknown whether the availability of vaccine improved mental health in the general public.

This study aims to fill the knowledge gap by assessing if COVID-19 vaccine availability was associated with reduction in the prevalence of depression and anxiety among a nationally representative group of adults in the US. We compared the prevalence of depression and anxiety before and after COVID-19 vaccine became available using a nationally representative household survey.

Methods

Data source

The data source we used for this study is the Census pulse survey. The Census pulse survey is a nationally representative household survey was designed by the United States Census Bureau in collaboration with numerous federal agencies to measure social and economic impact due to the coronavirus pandemic in the US (10). The pulse survey contains information on demographic characteristics, education, income, employment, food sufficiency, access to healthcare physical and mental health and other COVID-19 related information such as vaccine and testing.

Study design

We adopted a cross sectional and quasi-experimental design with mental health measurements in June 2020 and March 2021. Specifically, we used the survey results from Census Household Pulse Survey (HPS) during the following two waves: Week 7: June 11- June 16, 2020, and Week 27: March 17- 29, 2021. We chose these two waves of data for comparison purposes because in June 2020 individuals were subject to high stress due to prolonged health regulations, lock downs, and social isolation due to physical and social distancing, and in March 2021 vaccines were approved and became available to all adults over 18 years of age.

The inclusion criteria for the study were non-missing data on PHQ-2 and GAD-2 scores. Between week 7 and week 27, the census pulse survey consisted of 131,941 adults representing 209,245,170 adults in the United States.

Measures

The dependent variables examined in this study were depression (yes/no) and anxiety (yes/no) based on Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) questionnaires. PHQ-2, a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) assesses depression symptoms with two questions. 1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things. 2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless. GAD-2 assesses anxiety symptoms with two questions. 1. Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge. 2. Not being able to stop or control worrying. Each question is rated from 0 to 3 (Not at all (0), several days (1), More than half the days(2), and nearly every day (3). Thus, both PHQ-2 and GAD-2 scores range from 0 to 6. Adults with PHQ-2 score 3 or greater should be screened for major depressive disorder (11). Sensitivity of PHQ-2 is 97% and specificity is 67%. Adults with GAD-2 score 3 or greater should be screened for generalized anxiety disorder (12). Sensitivity of GAD-2 is 86% and specificity is 83%. In our study, adults who scored 3 or greater PHQ-2 were classified as having depression and adults who scored 3 or more in GAD-2 were classified as having anxiety.

Other explanatory variables included age, sex, food insecurity, education, income, race and ethnicity, marital status, loss of employment (whether reported lost work during the past 4 weeks), region.

Statistical analysis

We tested group differences using Rao-Scott chi-square. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to analyze factors associated with the presence of depression and anxiety respectively. In these regressions, our main focus was on time and we controlled for age, sex, food insecurity, education, income, race and ethnicity, marital status, loss of employment, and region. All analyses were conducted with the SAS survey procedures to take the survey weights provided by the Census pulse survey into consideration.

Results

Table 1 illustrates the characteristics of adult respondents in week 7 and week 27 in US Census Pulse Survey. There were 51.8% females, 64.3% white, 10.7% African American, 16.2% Hispanic/Latino, 5.0% Asian and 3.8% other race or multiracial; and 9.6% did not have health insurance. Demographic, socio-economic, and healthcare access (age, sex, race and ethnicity, education, and health insurance) did not differ between June 2020 and March 2021 (Table 1).

TABLE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Table 1. Description of selected characteristics of adult (18 years or older) respondents in weeks 7 (june 2020) and 27 (march 2021) United States Census Pulse Survey.

With respect to depression, 25.0% in June 2020 and 24.6% in March 2021 had PHQ-2 score 3 (Table 2). With respect to anxiety, 31.7% in June 2020 and 30.0% in March 2021 had a GAD-2 score to 3 (Table 2). The differences were not statistically significant. In adjusted analysis, there were no significant differences in likelihood of depression and anxiety between June 2020 and March 2021.

TABLE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Table 2. Description of selected characteristics of adult respondents by depression and anxiety (row percentages) United States Census Pulse Survey–week 7 (june 2020) and week 27 (march 2021).

In adjusted logistic regression (Table 3), those who reported food insufficiency (AOR = 2.93, 95% CI = 2.25, 3.79) and those who were never married (AOR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.02, 2.28) were more likely to have depression compared to those who reported food sufficiency and were married. Adults who did not lose work during the pandemic were less likely to have depression (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.47, 0.83) compared to those who lost employment.

TABLE 3
www.frontiersin.org

Table 3. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% (confidence intervals) selected characteristics from separate logistic regressions on depression and anxiety United States Census Pulse Survey–Week 7 (june 2020) and week 27 (march 2021).

In adjusted logistic regression (Table 3), those who reported food insufficiency (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI = 2.09, 3.81), loss of employment (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.44, 0.74) were more likely to be anxious compared to those with food sufficiency and did not lose employment. Being married was associated with lower odds of anxiety (AOR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.85, 1.83). Being a female was associated with higher odds of anxiety (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.83) compared to males.

Discussion

This study examined the association of COVID-19 vaccine availability and mental health. We observed adult depression prevalence rate at 25.0% in June 2020 and at 24.6% in March 2021 based on Census pulse survey. Therefore, the result suggests that the depression prevalence was relatively stable over this time period. We also report that anxiety was initially 31.7% at the beginning of the pandemic and 30.0% in March 2021. People who lost their jobs, had food insecurity, and were older were more likely to experience depression and anxiety in the study period. Females, in general, were more likely to experience anxiety, and people who were never married were more likely to experience depression during the study period.

These depression and anxiety rates were much higher than numbers found in the literature in the year preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, one study found that in 2019, 18.5% of U.S. adults were experiencing depression, of which 11.5% reported mild symptoms, 4.2% reported moderate symptoms, and 2.8% reported severe symptoms (13). Another study showed that during that same year, there were 15.6% who reported experiencing the anxiety, of which 9.5% reported mild symptoms, 3.4% reported moderate symptoms, and 2.7% reported severe symptoms (14).

Several studies during the pandemic showed an increase in depression and anxiety symptoms that were above the 2019 levels and were similar to the results of this study. A meta-analysis with pooled prevalence showed depression levels at 25% from January 1, 2020 to May 8, 2020 (4). In another meta-analysis conducted without a lower time limit and until May 2020, the prevalence of depression was 33.7% (much higher than our results); however, the prevalence of anxiety was 33.7% (similar to our results) (5). Other researchers have also reported that there was a higher burden of depression symptoms among U.S. adults in a study from March 31, 2020, to April 13, 2020 in which 27.8% reported depression symptoms (15).

Our study differs from the previous ones in that its time frame encompasses the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine for the general public and the potential for some resolution of depression and anxiety. The initial high levels of depression and anxiety were not unexpected as COVID-19 brought uncertainty and stress with its high transmission and number of hospitalizations and deaths in the early months of 2020. Additionally, the poor health messaging, lockdowns, economic downturn, and poor management of the pandemic in early 2020 were also factors that could be expected to impact depression and anxiety symptoms. A prior study found that COVID-19 vaccination improved anxiety and depression in chronic kidney disease patients (9). However, in this study, depression and anxiety levels remained high in March 2021, despite the widespread availability of the vaccines that were shown to sharply decrease severe COVID-19, hospitalizations, and death (16).

Three main factors may explain the high levels of depression and anxiety that did not subside after the availability of vaccines: vaccine hesitancy, concern for children ineligible for the vaccine, and social determinants. There is significant vaccine hesitancy in the Us. One online survey indicated that 41% of participants reported a belief of an adverse effect on fertility with the vaccination, and 38% reported being unsure about an adverse effect on fertility (17). In the U.S., the mixed messages, political discourse, and social media were evident. In a study of social networking tweets, the most retweeted tweets had misinformation (18). The researchers suggested that many of the tweets were from anti-vaxxer activists and systematic professional sources (18). Prior studies that shown that individuals with less education, less income, and who were black were more likely to have vaccine hesitancy or decline vaccinations (19, 20). Another study found that children and adolescents in England who had prior COVID-19 infection were more hesitant to receive vaccine and also had lower level of depression and anxiety (21). It is interesting to note that in a study conducted in Germany, COVID-19-related anxiety was associated with higher vaccine acceptance (22).

The other potential factor for maintaining high levels of anxiety and depression symptoms was concern about children and COVID-19. In March 2021, children under 12 years did not have access to vaccinations, and school boards were considering returning the children to in-person learning. In a study conducted in mid-March 2020, parents of children from primary school to college were surveyed, and parents who perceived stress and had children in middle or high school were at greater risk for depression and anxiety (23).

Our findings also indicated an association of depression and anxiety with social determinants of health such as employment, food sufficiency, and marital status (a proxy for social support). Regardless of COVID-19, individuals with untreated depressive disorders had lower employment rates (24). In a study of 424 adults, employment at baseline was associated with lower depressive symptoms throughout the life course of the depression (25). In one study, from June 15 to June 30, 2020, direct or household employment loss (job insecurity) was associated with a greater risk of poor mental health (26). Food insecurity has also been an identified risk factor for depression in older adults (27, 28). Researchers conducting a meta-analysis for risk factors for depression and anxiety indicated a positive relationship with food insecurity (29).

In our study, we found that persons who had never married were associated with depressive symptoms. In a literature review of marriage and psychiatric illness prior to the pandemic, marriage was both a protecting and predisposing factor for psychiatric illness, depending upon the quality of the marriage (30). A study of job loss during the pandemic and marriage indicated that married individuals were 1–2% less likely to develop mental health problems related to work/income (31). Another study indicated that during the pandemic, the quality of the marriage was related to depression and anxiety and that individuals with no relationships scored better than individuals with poor ones (32).

Our finding that depression and anxiety symptoms did not improve after COVID-19 vaccine became available has implications for future mental healthcare needs and healthcare delivery. During the period studied in this research, there was increased use of telehealth for anxiety and depression in some settings (33). In one study, telehealth reduced depression but not anxiety during the pandemic (34). In a survey study conducted in Arkansas, 42% of participants reported using telehealth; and those with anxiety and/or depression had three times greater odds than those with no diagnosis (35). Telehealth may be a viable means by which to meet mental healthcare needs beyond COVID-19.

With each wave of COVID-19, there may continue to be high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. The means to provide pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies to alleviate the mental health burden need to be expanded. Future studies need to explore barriers to COVID-19 related mental healthcare utilization and the impact of mental health therapies on outcomes among adults with depression and or anxiety.

Strengths and limitations

Our study has many strengths and some limitations. We used nationally representative data with near real-time collection. The findings from this study may inform public health planning and policies to address mental health. Availability of repeated cross-sections enabled assessment of COVID-19 related mental health burden over time. However, the survey lacked information on some variables such as chronic conditions, health status, loss/impact of COVID-19 on family and friends, the severity of depression and anxiety, physical activity, and vaccine hesitancy that may have influenced mental health.

Conclusion

Depression and anxiety symptoms did not change significantly between June 2020 and March 2021. These results suggest that the effects of the pandemic on mental health continue to persist despite the widespread availability of vaccines that would have been considered to assuage some of the symptoms.

Data availability statement

Publicly available datasets were analyzed in this study. This data can be found here: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey/datasets.html.

Author contributions

CS and US contributed to conception and design of the study. LR and US performed the statistical analysis. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, read, and approved the submitted version.

Funding

This project described was supported in part by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, 5U54GM104942-05 (RW) and by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Agreement No. 1OT2OD032581-01 (US) and NIH/1OT2HL158258-01 (US), and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities through the Texas Center for Health Disparities (NIMHD), 5U54MD006882-10 (HW and US).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Author disclaimer

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the NIH.

References

1. Burch AE, Jacobs M. COVID-19, Police violence, and educational disruption: the differential experience of anxiety for racial and ethnic households. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. (2021) 1:1–18. doi: 10.1007/s40615-021-01188-0

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Unemployment Rate Rises to a Record High of 14.7 Percent In April 2020. Available online at: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/unemployment-rate-rises-to-record-high-14-point-7-percent-in-april-2020.htm (accessed July 25, 2022).

Google Scholar

3. Statista. Total Number of Cases and Deaths From Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States as of May 15, 2022. Available online at https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101932/coronavirus-covid19-cases-and-deaths-number-us-americans (accessed July 25, 2022).

Google Scholar

4. Bueno-Notivol J, Gracia-García P, Olaya B, Lasheras I, López-Antón R, Santabárbara J. Prevalence of depression during the COVID-19 outbreak: a meta-analysis of community-based studies. Int J Clin Health Psychol. (2021) 21:100196–100196. doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2020.07.007

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

5. Salari N, Hosseinian-Far A, Jalali R, Vaisi-Raygani A, Rasoulpoor S, Mohammadi M, et al. Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Global Health. (2020) 16:57. doi: 10.1186/s12992-020-00589-w

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

6. Riehm KE, Holingue C, Smail EJ, Kapteyn A, Bennett D, Thrul J, et al. How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives: a study of psychological correlates across 59 countries. J Clin Psychol. (2021) 77:556–70. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23082

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

7. Yenerall J, Jensen K. Food security, financial resources, and mental health: evidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nutrients. (2021) 14:161. doi: 10.3390/nu14010161

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

8. Riehm KE, Holingue C, Smail EJ, Kapteyn A, Bennett D, Thrul J, et al. Trajectories of mental distress among U. S adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ann Behav Med. (2021) 55:93–102. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaaa126

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

9. Garcia-Llana H, Panizo N, Gandía L, Orti M, Giménez-Civera E, Forquet C, et al. COVID-19 vaccination improved psychological distress (anxiety and depression scores) in chronic kidney disease patients: a prospective study. Vaccines (Basel). (2022) 10:299. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10020299

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

10. Bureau, TUSC. Measuring Household Experiences during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Available online at: https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products/household-pulse-survey.html.

Google Scholar

11. Arroll B, Goodyear-Smith F, Crengle S, Gunn J, Kerse N, Fishman T, et al. Validation of PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 to screen for major depression in the primary care population. Ann Fam Med. (2010) 8:348–53. doi: 10.1370/afm.1139

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

12. Wild B, Eckl A, Herzog W, Niehoff D, Lechner S, Maatouk I, et al. Assessing generalized anxiety disorder in elderly people using the GAD-7 and GAD-2 scales: results of a validation study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. (2014) 22:1029–38. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.01.076

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

13. Villarroel MA, Terlizzi EP. Symptoms of depression among adults: United States, 2019. NCHS Data Brief. (2020). pp. 1–8.

PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar

14. Terlizzi EP, Villarroel MA. Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder among adults: United States, 2019. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2020).

PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar

15. Ettman CK, Abdalla SM, Cohen GH, Sampson L, Vivier PM, Galea S. prevalence of depression symptoms in US adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Network Open. (2020) 3:e2019686–e2019686. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19686

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

16. Roghani A. The Influence of COVID-19 vaccination on daily cases, hospitalization, and death rate in tennessee, united states: case study. JMIRx Med. (2021) 2:e29324. doi: 10.2196/29324

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

17. Burlotos A, Díaz PAV, Pacheco MAH, de León Angel LDP, Camas MM, Sepulveda-Delgado J, et al. Fear about adverse effect on fertility is a major cause of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the United States. Andrologia. (2022) 54:e14361. doi: 10.1111/and.14361

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

18. Jemielniak D, Krempovych Y. An analysis of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and fear mongering on Twitter. Public Health. (2021) 200:4–6. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.08.019

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

19. Willis DE, Andersen JA, Bryant-Moore K, Selig JP, Long CR, Felix HC, et al. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: race/ethnicity, trust, and fear. Clin Transl Sci. (2021) 14:2200–7. doi: 10.1111/cts.13077

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

20. Sekizawa Y, Hashimoto S, Denda K, Ochi S, So M. Association between COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and generalized trust, depression, generalized anxiety, and fear of COVID-19. BMC Public Health. (2022) 22:126. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-12479-w

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

21. Fazel M, Puntis S, White SR, Townsend A, Mansfield KL, Viner R, et al. Willingness of children and adolescents to have a COVID-19 vaccination: results of a large whole schools survey in England. EClin Med. (2021) 40:101144–101144. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101144

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

22. Bendau A, Plag J, Petzold MB, Ströhle A. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and related fears and anxiety. Int Immunopharmacol. (2021) 97:107724. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107724

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

23. Wu M, Xu W, Yao Y, Zhang L, Guo L, Fan J, et al. Mental health status of students' parents during COVID-19 pandemic and its influence factors. General Psychiatr. (2020) 33:250. doi: 10.1136/gpsych-2020-100250

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

24. Zuelke AE, Luck T, Schroeter ML, Witte AV, Hinz A, Engel C, et al. The association between unemployment and depression-Results from the population-based LIFE-adult-study. J Affect Disord. (2018) 235:399–406. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.04.073

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

25. Heinz AJ, Meffert BN, Halvorson MA, Blonigen D, Timko C, Cronkite R. Employment characteristics, work environment, and the course of depression over 23 years: does employment help foster resilience? Depress Anxiety. (2018) 35:861–7. doi: 10.1002/da.22782

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

26. Ganson KT, Tsai AC, Weiser SD, Benabou SE, Nagata JM. Job Insecurity and symptoms of anxiety and depression among U. S young adults during COVID-19. J Adolesc Health. (2021) 68:53–6. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.10.008

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

27. Smith L, Il Shin J, McDermott D, Jacob L, Barnett Y, López-Sánchez GF, et al. Association between food insecurity and depression among older adults from low- and middle-income countries. Depress Anxiety. (2021) 38:439–46. doi: 10.1002/da.23147

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

28. Jung SE, Kim S, Bishop A, Hermann J. Poor nutritional status among low-income older adults: examining the interconnection between self-care capacity, food insecurity, and depression. J Acad Nutr Diet. (2019) 119:1687–94. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2018.04.009

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

29. Pourmotabbed A, Moradi S, Babaei A, Ghavami A, Mohammadi H, Jalili C, et al. Food insecurity and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr. (2020) 23:1778–90. doi: 10.1017/S136898001900435X

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

30. Mina S. Predictors of marriage in psychiatric illness: a review of literature. J Psychiatr Psychiatric Dis. (2019) 3:14–22. doi: 10.26502/jppd.2572-519X0058

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

31. Jace CE, Makridis CA. Does marriage protect mental health? evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic. Soc Sci Q. (2021) 102:2499–515. doi: 10.1111/ssqu.13063

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

32. Pieh C. O' Rourke T, Budimir S, Probst T. Relationship quality and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown. PloS ONE. (2020) 15:e0238906. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238906

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

33. Jaffe DH, Lee L, Huynh S, Haskell TP. Health inequalities in the use of telehealth in the United States in the lens of COVID-19. Popul Health Manag. (2020) 23:368–77. doi: 10.1089/pop.2020.0186

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

34. Graziano S, Boldrini F, Righelli D, Milo F, Lucidi V, Quittner A, et al. Psychological interventions during COVID pandemic: telehealth for individuals with cystic fibrosis and caregivers. Pediatr Pulmonol. (2021) 56:1976–84. doi: 10.1002/ppul.25413

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

35. Andersen JA, Rowland B, Gloster E, McElfish PA. Telehealth utilization during COVID-19 among people with diagnosed mental health conditions. Telemed J E Health. (2022) 28:743–6. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2021.0356

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: COVID-19, depression, anxiety, Census pulse survey, vaccine availability

Citation: Shen C, Rashiwala L, Wiener RC, Findley PA, Wang H and Sambamoorthi U (2022) The association of COVID-19 vaccine availability with mental health among adults in the United States. Front. Psychiatry 13:970007. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.970007

Received: 15 June 2022; Accepted: 21 July 2022;
Published: 09 August 2022.

Edited by:

Vsevolod Konstantinov, Penza State University, Russia

Reviewed by:

Arlette Setiawan, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia
Thiago Teixeira Guimarães, Air Force University, Brazil
Alena Zolotareva, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russia

Copyright © 2022 Shen, Rashiwala, Wiener, Findley, Wang and Sambamoorthi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Chan Shen, cshen@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

ORCID: Chan Shen https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5680-3134

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.