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Mediation

Long COVID and Post-COVID-19 Vaccination Syndrome Bring Stigmatization and Psychologization

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Adults with long COVID (LC) or post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome (PCVS) suffer not only from symptoms but also from stigmatization, according to new research from University of Leipzig. The study examined 2,053 individuals and found high prevalence of stigma experiences, with 83% of those reporting LC and 90% of those reporting PCVS experiencing stigma.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study used the "Long Covid Stigma Scale" to measure stigmatization and found high prevalences of stigma experiences, with 83% of those reporting LC and 90% of those reporting PCVS experiencing stigma.
  • Prevalences of perceived psychologization (LC: 87%, PCVS: 91%) and experienced psychologization (LC: 82%, PCVS: 87%) were similarly high among participants.
  • Mediation analysis indicated that stigmatization mediated a relevant proportion of the relationship between psychologization and negative outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
  • The study concluded that from a patient perspective, psychologization appears to be an important driver of stigmatization and negative outcomes.
  • The research was based on a large convenience sample of adults who report having LC or PCVS and was supported by financial resources from Universitat Leipzig.

Statistics:

  • 2,053 individuals were included in the analyses.
  • 68% of participants reported LC, while 32% reported PCVS.
  • 83% of those reporting LC and 90% of those reporting PCVS experienced stigma.
  • Prevalences of perceived psychologization (LC: 87%, PCVS: 91%) and experienced psychologization (LC: 82%, PCVS: 87%) were similarly high.
  • The study found that both stigmatization and psychologization were positively correlated with disclosure concerns, loss of trust in medicine, depression, anxiety, and loneliness as well as negatively correlated with life satisfaction and self-esteem.

Sources:

  • "Have you considered that it could be burnout?"-psychologization and stigmatization of self-reported long COVID or post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome. BMC Medicine, 2025;23(1):488.
  • NewsRx. New Findings from University of Leipzig in the Area of COVID-19 Reported ("Have you considered that it could be burnout?"-psychologization and stigmatization of self-reported long COVID or post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. September 7, 2025; p 50.

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