- Markets with higher COVID-19 vaccination rates report better
outlook on health and well-being
- Mental health seen as most important influence of whole
person health, virtual mental health consultations increased
89 percent since beginning of pandemic
- Employees expect more from employers, including
mental health support and workplace flexibility
HONG KONG, June 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cigna
International released its seventh annual 360 Well-Being Survey
with several new topics included to reveal the impact of COVID-19
on virtual health, whole person health, resilience and remote work.
Opinion data from more than 18,000 adults in 21 markets across five
continents confirms global pandemic recovery will require
successful vaccination programs and a holistic view of supporting
mental health by employers and governments.
Uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations linked to better outlook on
health and well-being
Findings confirm the connection between greater vaccine uptake
and access to successful vaccination programs, with more positive
perceptions of health and well-being first shown in Cigna's 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine Perception Survey. Among the markets with high
vaccination rates, the United
States, United Arab
Emirates, Spain and
Saudi Arabia, even reported
well-being scores exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
In contrast, markets where vaccination rates are lower such as
Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, had lower well-being scores, despite
not yet experiencing surges in cases and still maintaining a
relatively lower number of deaths related to COVID-19 at the time
of the survey. This negative outlook may be linked to the struggle
to reach herd immunity in those markets, a milestone that experts
widely agree is the long-term solution to beating
COVID-19.
"Even as we begin to see reasons for optimism, we are reminded
that overcoming the pandemic and its impact on health and
well-being requires a comprehensive global vaccination program and
uptake. Our survey shows the pandemic has had a particularly
negative impact on certain demographics and groups, and
understanding this will be vital for businesses and policymakers
alike," said Jason Sadler,
President, Cigna International.
Mental health, closely followed by physical health, seen as
important influence on whole person health
72 percent of respondents rank mental health as the most
important influence on personal health and well-being, followed by
physical health at 70 percent. Although stigma around mental health
persists, the rise in adoption and availability of virtual health
tools offers an opportunity to help people access the care they
need, when they need it. Globally, use of virtual consultations to
access mental health therapy and counseling services increased 89
percent since the beginning of the pandemic, echoing data from
the United States in Cigna's
One-Year Impact of COVID-19 report which showed nearly two-thirds
of behavioral care was performed virtually.
Financial well-being concerns are prevalent
Only 28 percent of respondents are confident in their ability to
maintain their current standard of living, and 19 percent of
respondents say they feel very good or excellent when asked if they
have sufficient money for retirement. The outlook was poorest in
women, with significant concerns regarding long-term saving
specifically reported in the 18-24 age group and retirement
planning among those aged 50 to 64.
Family time boosts resilience - employers must rethink
workforce strategies
This survey found that global working parents with younger
children (aged under 18) reported the highest well-being score of
66.2 and are the most positive group across almost all elements of
the five indices. The research found 83 percent of respondents in
this group are confident in their ability to support their
children's education and 84 percent are positive about their
ability to take care of their children's health and well-being.
Respondents reported an increased desire to work from home, with
26 percent citing the greater connection with family as one of the
key benefits of remote working. Employers should take note of this
trend as employees now expect flexibility and better support in
terms of access to health and well-being services, with mental
health and stress management seen as critical elements, as well as
financial advice.
"Health benefits and better work-life balance are key areas
where employers fall short of employee expectations. As companies
update employment policies post-pandemic, they will need to address
these concerns to retain and attract the best talent," said
Michelle Leung, Human Resources
Officer, Cigna International.
Download the report
The Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey measures perceptions of health
and well-being based on five indices - family, financial,
physical, social and work. The 2021 report includes additional
topics of virtual health, whole health, resilience and working from
home. Click here to download the full report.
Research methodology
Cigna partnered with Kantar, a leading data, insights, and
consulting company, to survey 18,043 people, aged 18 and above, in
21 markets in April 2021, prior to
the surges in COVID-19 cases in India and Taiwan. The markets covered in this survey are
Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Hong
Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya,
New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South
Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, The
Netherlands, Turkey,
United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States of America.
Online sampling used respondents recruited from panels that
undergo rigorous quality control and the panel composition is
representative of the adult population in each of the surveyed
markets.
About Cigna
Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company
dedicated to improving the health, well-being and peace of mind of
those we serve. Cigna delivers choice, predictability,
affordability and access to quality care through integrated
capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that advance
whole person health. All products and services are provided
exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna
Corporation, Evernorth companies or their affiliates, and Express
Scripts companies or their affiliates. Such products and services
include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical,
dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits,
and other related products. Cigna maintains sales capability in
over 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 175 million
customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about
Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or
Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
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