DATE: April 04, 2025 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: Scientists observe surprising link between mindset and vaccine outcomes

URL: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-observe-surprising-link-between-mindset-and-vaccine-outcomes/

New research published in Brain, Behavior, Immunity – Health suggests that how people think about the COVID-19 vaccine might shape their experience—both psychologically and biologically. Individuals with a more positive mindset about the vaccine reported fewer side effects, less anxiety on the day of vaccination, and greater happiness in the days that followed. One specific belief—that side effects signal the vaccine is working—was linked with stronger immune responses, as measured by neutralizing antibody levels, even months after vaccination.

“We were interested in this topic because there’s increasing evidence that how people think about health interventions—like vaccines—can influence how they experience them,” explained study author Darwin A. Guevarra, an assistant professor of psychology at Miami University.

“Given the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and the variability in people’s reactions, we wanted to know whether psychological factors, like mindsets, might help explain differences in both biological and emotional responses.”

“This study adds to growing evidence that our minds and bodies are deeply connected. Even small shifts in mindset—how we frame what we’re experiencing—can potentially make a big difference in how we respond to medical interventions. That’s both exciting and empowering.”

The researchers conducted a prospective study involving 534 healthy adults in the San Francisco Bay Area. These participants had not yet been infected with COVID-19 and had not received a vaccine at the start of the study. They were enrolled between March and April 2021, just as vaccination campaigns were expanding. Each participant received one of three vaccines—Johnson Johnson, Moderna, or Pfizer—and was tracked over time to see how their beliefs about the vaccine related to their biological and emotional responses.

Participants answered surveys about their beliefs and feelings on the day of their vaccination and in the days afterward. These surveys assessed general optimism, anxiety, and emotional well-being, as well as more specific beliefs, such as whether they thought the vaccine would protect them, whether they believed their body would respond well, and whether they saw side effects as a sign the vaccine was working.

Blood samples were collected at three time points: before vaccination, about one month after, and again at six months. These blood samples were analyzed to measure levels of neutralizing antibodies—proteins the body produces to fight the virus.

When researchers analyzed the data, they found that participants who had a more positive overall mindset about the vaccine reported fewer side effects and less anxiety on the day they were vaccinated. They also reported feeling less stressed and sad, and more joyful in the days that followed. These effects were strongest on the day of vaccination and gradually declined over the next five days.

Importantly, these results remained even after accounting for other factors like general optimism, suggesting that specific beliefs about the vaccine played a unique role.

In more targeted analyses, the researchers found that people who believed their body would respond well to the vaccine or who believed the vaccine would protect them also tended to experience fewer side effects and less anxiety. They also reported better emotional outcomes.

Interestingly, however, these specific beliefs did not predict a stronger antibody response. The only belief that did was the mindset that side effects are a sign the vaccine is working. People who held this belief had higher neutralizing antibody levels at both the one-month and six-month follow-ups, suggesting a possible link between this specific expectation and the body’s immune response.

“What you believe about a vaccine before getting it might shape your reaction to it,” Guevarra told PsyPost. “People with a more positive mindset about the vaccine––such as believing it would work or that their body would respond well––reported fewer side effects, less anxiety, and better mood after vaccination. In some cases, specific beliefs, such as viewing side effects as a sign that the vaccine is working, were even linked to stronger antibody responses.”

This pattern raises the possibility that interpreting side effects as a positive sign could alter how the body reacts at a biological level. While the exact mechanisms remain unclear, one explanation is that this mindset reduces stress responses, which have been shown in previous studies to influence immune functioning. Another possibility is that the belief encourages greater engagement with the experience—people may be more likely to rest, hydrate, or otherwise care for themselves if they see symptoms as meaningful rather than threatening.

But the study, like all research, has limitations to consider. While the study design was prospective—meaning beliefs were measured before outcomes—it was not an experimental study. This means that the researchers cannot say for sure that mindsets caused the observed effects. It’s possible that other unmeasured factors played a role.

“Also, our sample generally had very positive vaccine mindsets to begin with, which might limit the range of effects we could observe,” Guevarra noted. “We need more research in groups with more varied beliefs about vaccination.”

Despite these caveats, the findings align with a growing body of research showing that how people think about treatments can influence how effective those treatments feel—and even how the body responds. Studies of non-deceptive placebos, for example, have shown that people can experience real emotional and physical benefits even when they know they are not receiving an active drug.

In one such study published in Nature Communications, people who were told a saline nasal spray was a placebo still experienced less emotional distress when shown upsetting images, and brain scans confirmed changes in neural markers of distress.

“Many people might find these results surprising, but they actually align with what we already know from decades of research,” Guevarra explained. “The brain communicates with every major physiological system, including the immune system. Studies in placebo science and psychoneuroimmunology have shown that our beliefs and expectations can influence how our bodies respond to illness and treatment. What’s new here is applying that framework to vaccine response—an area that hasn’t been thoroughly studied before. More work is needed to replicate these findings and uncover the biological pathways involved.”

The implications are wide-ranging. If mindset interventions can reliably improve how people experience vaccination, they could be used to ease fear, reduce side effects, and even boost immunity.

“Our goal is to better understand how mindset interventions could be used alongside medical treatments to improve health outcomes,” Guevarra told PsyPost. “If we can identify simple, scalable ways to shift people’s beliefs—like short videos or messages delivered before treatment—we might be able to reduce side effects, improve emotional well-being, and even enhance physiological responses.”

The study, “Examining the association of vaccine-related mindsets and post-vaccination antibody response, side effects, and affective outcomes,” was authored by Darwin A. Guevarra, Ethan G. Dutcher, Alia J. Crum, Aric A. Prather, and Elissa S. Epel.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-observe-surprising-link-between-mindset-and-vaccine-outcomes/

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DATE: April 04, 2025 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: New study finds link between ADHD symptoms and distressing sexual problems

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-finds-link-between-adhd-symptoms-and-distressing-sexual-problems/

A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has found that adults who show signs of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are more likely to experience problems with sexual function and distress about their sex lives. People who met the threshold for likely ADHD were over twice as likely to report distressing sexual issues compared to those without ADHD symptoms. The findings suggest that difficulties with attention and emotional regulation may play a role in these sexual concerns.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that includes problems with attention, distractibility, impulsivity, and emotion regulation. These core difficulties can impact many aspects of daily life. Researchers have long suspected that these challenges may also interfere with sexual functioning. Sexual activity, after all, often requires focus and emotional attunement—traits that can be disrupted by ADHD symptoms.

While earlier studies offered mixed results, many had small sample sizes and didn’t assess sexual distress, which is an essential factor in diagnosing sexual dysfunction. The new study sought to clarify these connections using a large sample and validated measurement tools.

To investigate the link between ADHD symptoms and sexual problems, the researchers collected data from 943 adults living in Canada. Participants were recruited through an online platform and completed a set of questionnaires assessing their attention-related symptoms, sexual function, and feelings of sexual distress. Of the total sample, 106 people met the threshold for a likely ADHD diagnosis based on a widely used screening tool developed by the World Health Organization.

Sexual functioning was assessed with the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, which looks at several areas including sexual desire, arousal, ability to reach orgasm, satisfaction with orgasm, and physical responses like lubrication or erection. To evaluate distress related to sexual issues, the researchers used a short form of the Sexual Distress Scale, which measures how often someone feels anxious, frustrated, or inadequate because of problems with their sex life.

After analyzing the data, the researchers found that greater ADHD symptom severity was linked to more problems with sexual functioning and more frequent sexual distress. Specifically, people with more ADHD symptoms reported greater difficulty reaching orgasm and less satisfaction when they did. These individuals were also more likely to feel worried or upset about their sex lives.

When comparing people with likely ADHD to those without, the differences were especially clear in certain domains. Those with ADHD symptoms reported more problems with orgasm ability and orgasm satisfaction. They also had higher levels of sexual distress overall. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in sexual desire, arousal, or physical readiness for sex, such as lubrication or erection. This pattern suggests that attention-related symptoms may interfere more with the later stages of sexual response, particularly those that require sustained focus or regulation of sensations.

The study also explored whether age, sex, and sexual orientation might influence these patterns. Age did seem to matter: younger participants with ADHD symptoms showed stronger associations with orgasm difficulties than older participants. This might be because ADHD symptoms often decrease in intensity with age.

The researchers also found that sex assigned at birth moderated the relationship between ADHD symptoms and sexual distress. While the association was present in both males and females, it was stronger in males. One possible explanation is that men with ADHD may feel more pressure to perform sexually, and problems with orgasm could carry more emotional weight because of social expectations around male sexual performance.

Another key finding was that individuals with likely ADHD were more than twice as likely as those without to meet the clinical criteria for distressing sexual dysfunction. This means that their sexual difficulties were not just present but also causing meaningful emotional harm. When the researchers looked more closely, they found that the link between ADHD symptoms and sexual distress could be partly explained by emotion regulation difficulties. People with ADHD often struggle to manage intense emotions, and this may make sexual problems feel more upsetting and harder to cope with.

“Taken together, these data support associations between ADHD and distressing sexual function problems, and difficulties with emotion regulation as a potential mechanism underlying ADHD and sexual dysfunction,” the researchers concluded.

However, there are some limitations to keep in mind. The study did not include clinical interviews to confirm ADHD diagnoses, so some participants with high scores might not meet formal criteria. It’s also possible that other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, could account for some of the findings.

Despite these limitations, the results offer new insight into how ADHD symptoms may affect sexual well-being. The study supports the idea that attention and emotion regulation difficulties—core features of ADHD—can interfere with sexual satisfaction and contribute to distress. It also highlights the importance of assessing sexual health in people with ADHD, something that is often overlooked in both clinical and research settings.

The study, “Distressing Problems with Sexual Function and Symptoms of Attention‑Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,” was authored by Simone Y. Goldberg, Maya C. Thulin, Hyoun S. Kim, and Samantha J. Dawson.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-finds-link-between-adhd-symptoms-and-distressing-sexual-problems/

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