Analysis of Psychosocial Consequences of Covid-19 Disease and Vaccination in the Elderly: A Qualitative Study

The elderly are one of the sensitive groups at risk of developing Covid-19 disease. We aimed to investigate the psychosocial consequences of Covid-19 disease and vaccination in the elderly.

The phenomenological method was used in the current study. The study population included all the elderly receiving the Covid-19 vaccine in Sari city, Iran. 13 individuals were selected through purposeful sampling method who were interviewed afterwards. The Colaizzi Phenomenological method was used to analyze the data.

Data analysis led to the identification of 5 main themes, 11 sub-themes, and 56 primary open themes. The first major theme was "psychological status." Psychological status included a set of reactions that included the following sub-themes: 1-Positive psychological status, 2-Negative psychological status. The second main theme was "recreational and communication status". Recreational and communication status was a set of behaviors that included the following sub-themes: 1-Health-based personal entertainment and communication, 2-Destructive entertainment and communication. The third main theme was physical and health status with these central themes: 1-Psychological and behavioral consequences of receiving the vaccine, 2-Physical complications of receiving the vaccine, and 3-Change in physical examinations. The economic status as the fourth main theme included: 1-High cost of Covid-19, 2-Career problems. Finally, the last major theme was lifestyle with the following central codes: 1-Pre-corona family plans and, 2-Post-corona family plans.

The results showed that it is important to pay attention to the experience of the elderly in the coronavirus crisis and that the devastating consequences of Covid-19 can be avoided.