Teachers' demographics, mindfulness skills, and anxiety predict COVID-19 vaccination status

Abstract

Background: Given that maintaining the health of teachers and students is of the utmost importance, this study explored potential predictors of U.S. teachers' decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, an evidence-based public health measure. The present study explored whether teachers' demographics (i.e., gender, race, age, and grade taught), personal characteristics (i.e., awareness and nonjudgmental orientation as components of mindfulness, and anxiety), and state characteristics (i.e., gubernatorial party) were associated with their decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Method: Five hundred sixteen Kindergarten-12th grade teachers from across the U.S. participated in April 2022.

Results: Results from stepwise generalized linear mixed effects models indicated that teachers who were women (vs. men), White (vs. teachers of color), and younger (vs. older) were less likely to be vaccinated. Awareness skills were associated with greater odds of vaccination, whereas a nonjudgmental orientation and anxiety were associated with reduced odds of vaccination.

Conclusions: This study provides insight into demographic, personal, and state-level influences associated with teachers' decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Findings highlight the importance of targeted efforts to increase adherence to public health guidelines so that schools can reopen swiftly and safely in future public health crises.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; Mindfulness; Teacher well-being; Vaccination.