Health study in Austria: stress and worries on the rise

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Just over one in two people feels physically and mentally healthy, but around 10 percent describe their health as “poor” to “very poor.” These are the findings of this year’s Wiener Städtische Insurance Health Study. As in previous years, the proportion of deteriorations outweighs the improvements. Slightly more than one in five people state that their mental health has deteriorated. Almost half of those surveyed take prescription medication, with over 70 percent in the mid-50s age group.

Stress and worries on the rise
In the representative survey by the Gallup Institute, 1,000 people aged between 16 and 70 were asked at the beginning of August about their stress levels and worries, among other things. Around 30 percent feel very stressed or stressed, with women reporting a higher level of stress than men (33 vs. 24 percent). The perception of stress has also increased for 31% of women in the past year, compared to 22% of men.

According to the survey, four out of five people in Austria worry regularly. The level of worry has increased among young people aged 16 to 35 in particular, with 36% more worried than a year ago. “We see three main areas of concern in the results: Their own health and that of family members, the financial situation and the future,” said Sonja Brandtmayer, Deputy General Manager of Wiener Städtische Versicherung at a press conference on Thursday. Other triggers of worry are the political situation, career and education, relationships, crime and climate change.

People who sleep well have a lower risk of a heart attack
When it comes to recovery and sleep, the study shows that the majority (61% of people surveyed sleep between 5 and 7 hours and only feel moderately or not at all rested when they wake up. It is known from sleep research that 7 to 9 hours of sleep are necessary to recover sufficiently. However, only 32 percent of those surveyed stated that they slept between 7.5 and 9 hours.

Some remain skeptical about vaccinations
A clear majority of survey participants consider vaccinations to be safe, while one in ten people describe them as very unsafe. In terms of willingness to be vaccinated in the event of a future pandemic, half said they would be vaccinated again. However, almost 30 percent would not do so again. “In Austria, we are dealing with scientific skepticism to a certain extent. We know that around a quarter of the population has little trust in science,” said study director Gabriele Reithner from the Gallup Institute.

The attitude towards vaccinations is also strongly linked to the level of education; “with an educational level of at least A-levels, we are already talking about a proportion of 80 percent who show trust,” added Reithner. With regard to vaccinating their own children, the study shows that three quarters of parents have all the standard recommended vaccinations carried out on their children, while just under a fifth only have some of their children vaccinated. Six percent do not have any vaccinations. “Here we are mostly talking about the group of vaccination opponents. Concerns about the ingredients, mistrust of the pharmaceutical industry or fear of long-term effects prevent people from having vaccinations,” said Reithner.

Mixed report card for the healthcare system
As far as the public healthcare system is concerned, half of those surveyed are very satisfied or satisfied. However, just under a fifth are dissatisfied; “satisfaction has also fallen significantly year-on-year in recent years,” commented Reithner. 41 percent perceive a deterioration in the healthcare system. Long waiting times and overloads are cited as critical points.

60 percent of respondents generally only wait a few days for an appointment with a general practitioner, while waiting times for specialists are significantly longer: 55 percent of survey participants report waiting times of at least one month. This has implications for private healthcare. The majority (72%) say that private healthcare should be taken out by the age of 30. A quarter of respondents already have private health insurance, and 30 percent of those under 35.