Essity announced “The Future of Well-being”, to understand how the Spanish society conceives its well-being and life satisfaction. From the data it can be understood that mental health gains importance when we think about what we feel good about, as well as maintaining good social relationships.
The expectation asked the Spanish men and women what causes they considered necessary for the present well-being. For 50%, financial security is the greatest, next to physical well-being, without pain and discomfort with 45%. Eating healthy food and having enough quiet time is in third place, with 42%. In general, the Spanish population continues to lead a healthy lifestyle and considers that regular physical exercise – according to 45% of those surveyed, eat healthy food, as 38% – and social relations – for 35% – will be good in the near future. they will help them in the future.
“In today’s uncertain and continuous changes, personal health and self-care belong more to society, which in turn becomes aware of its own responsibility for the future well-being. In the report we see how economic stability is compared to the care of society’s approach or that we finally understand our living conditions how we feel now and in the near future”, says José Ramón Iracheta, country manager of Essity Iberia.
Mental health is the least of worries: an important element in the global dialogue on well-being
In the years, especially from 2020, mental health, related diseases and how they affect us today, have been placed at the center of the conversation. Mental and emotional well-being is one of the issues that most concern society. In fact, now 2 out of 10 Spaniards claim to go through conditions such as depression or anxiety. It is significant that when this data is analyzed distinguishing by age, in the smallest segment of the population, between 18-25 years old, the percentage increases to 35%.
The report “The Future of Well-Being” also reveals the impact that social relationships have on the perception of well-being. 1 in 4 people looked, considering that the main threat is feeling alone. Again, this is a smaller part of the population that manages a larger percentage, but it also stands out that 53% of those surveyed over the age of 65 are good at building relationships with friends and family.
“The data shows that mental health is essential and social relationships are necessary to feel good. However, religion still exists as 18% of people who experience mental problems prefer to talk about it. Understanding the needs of people allows us to better respond to the needs of society, associations, public institutions and the community itself,” adds José Ramon Iracheta from Essity.
Anxiety and worry increases as we get older
The Future Well-being report outlines some of the challenges we will face as a society in the coming years. Prominent among them is the growing aging population and the challenge that this entails in the area of care and concern, the family and the public and private health system.
According to data from the report, by 40% of middle-aged people, it is the partner who is more involved in caring for the business. Among the elderly, 47% consider that the responsibility of care rests with children and with 19% in caring professionals, which is hardly considered in other age groups.
Indeed, it is also the families that take care of people with a greater degree of dependence, which combine work outside the home with care, or at the cost of giving up care. In Spain, for 47% of citizens surveyed, emotional and psychological support is mainly relevant to facilitating the functions of a caregiver, and the importance of accompanying non-professional caregivers during their days is thus illustrated. the movement of reason, beyond the very observance of one’s duties.
From Essity, José Ramón Iracheta explains that “a large part of care falls at the family level. What emerges from this report is that citizens demand more work from the social work, business, or health. 37% of the Spanish population considers that care at home is extended and non-professional workers are seen when the creation of more efficient and special methods of invention.
Each person will decide what are the needs that they consider to be primary to ensure their safety, according to their circumstances, environment and values. The report “The Future Well-Being” revealed common issues that have a direct impact on well-being levels, such as financial stability, mental health and the maintenance of social relationships and concern for those of us who care for the future. . the future
You can view all the data and see the full report here.
Access more responsible information in our digital library of stewardship publications and the Essity Case Study in the 2023 Stewardship Yearbook.
