PARENTAL COVID-19 vaccination decisions were associated with children’s mental health and lifestyle in South Tyrol 2022-23 surveys.
Parental COVID-19 Vaccination Decisions and Study Design
Researchers assessed how parental attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination related to mental health and lifestyle outcomes in children and adolescents aged 7–19 years in South Tyrol, Italy. The analysis used cross-sectional survey data collected across two timepoints, 2022 and 2023, comprising 6,842 and 4,525 participants, respectively. Associations between vaccination rates and lifestyle parameters were evaluated using unadjusted odds ratios. Mental health problems and health-related quality of life were assessed using validated questionnaires, including proxy reporting by parents and self-report measures from young people.
Vaccination Uptake and Changes Over Time
Vaccination rates among adolescents peaked at age 12 and then stabilized after 2022, when the Green Pass requirement was removed. Across the dataset, families with consistent vaccination status reported lower burdens in 2022 and healthier lifestyle patterns in 2023. By comparison, unvaccinated families reported higher burdens and lower quality of life in 2022, though these differences were not observed in 2023.
Mental Health Findings Across Reports
Mental health signals varied by reporter and year. Proxy reports indicated fewer mental health issues among children in vaccinated families, while self-reports identified more psychosocial problems among children in unvaccinated families, particularly in 2022. A notable subgroup comprised parents who did not respond to the vaccination question. By 2023, this non-response group showed the greatest reported burden, and children’s mental health and psychosomatic problems remained significantly higher compared with both unvaccinated and vaccinated groups.
What the Results Suggest
Overall, the findings indicate that parental COVID-19 vaccination decisions, including reluctance and non-participation, aligned with children’s pandemic experience and way of life, with the strongest differences seen in 2022. The authors interpret non-response to vaccination questions as a potential marker of longer-lasting challenges and psychosocial difficulties within affected families.
Reference: Barbieri V et al. The association of parental COVID-19 vaccination decisions with the mental health and lifestyle of children and adolescents. Sci Rep. 2026;DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-35403-x.
