A couple walks in Madrid on October 29.FERNANDO VILLAR / EFE
Opinion about the Government has worsened for 59.9% of Spaniards due to the coronavirus crisis, according to the
Center for Sociological Research (CIS)
, which this Wednesday published a study on the effects and consequences of the pandemic.
The survey, carried out through 2,861 interviews, reveals that of all the consequences that this health crisis is having, those that most concern the population are those that affect physical health and emotional well-being, above the economic damage.
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The assessment of the PSOE and Podemos coalition executive is not the only one that suffers from the management of the pandemic, according to the CIS survey.
Opinion on the autonomous governments has also diminished, but to a lesser extent: that on the communities has fallen to 47.1%.
For 18.2%, their opinion about the State Government has improved and for 15.1% it remains the same.
For 26.9%, their assessment of their regional Executive has increased and for 18.5% it has not changed.
The survey asks about the effect of the pandemic on other institutions and elements of public life.
47.7% of Spaniards believe that the work of the media during the pandemic has worsened.
Another institution that goes wrong is the European Union, whose valuation has fallen for 37.5% of Spaniards, while 34.9% have a worse impression of their municipal government.
Among public officials, those who have emerged the most reinforced from this crisis are those of the National Police and the Civil Guard: 54.8% have improved their opinion of them.
They are followed by education (54.6%), the Army (52%) and health (49.4%).
Precisely, the assessment of the health system is one of those that worsens the most (for 34.1%).
It is a much greater disaffection than, for example, for education (16%).
Worried about the virus
The coronavirus crisis has meant the death of almost 40,000 people in Spain, according to the count of the Ministry of Health this Tuesday (although the real figure is well above, since thousands of people died in the first wave without a confirming test the diagnosis).
Six out of 10 Spaniards (58.4%) have thought at some point that they could end up being one of those fatalities of the pandemic, according to the study carried out by the CIS.
Restlessness about the virus is widespread in the population: 53% say they have sometimes worried about the pandemic;
26%, most of the time;
and 12.3%, always.
Only 8.5% say they have never been concerned about covid.
Another of the emotions that Spaniards have sometimes felt lately are sadness (52.4%), tension or anxiety (50.6%) and anger (40.7%).
Almost a third of Spaniards (31.2%) say that they are equally concerned both about the consequences of the coronavirus on the economy and employment and on people's physical health and emotional well-being.
29.2% answered that what worries them the most is the effect of the virus on physical health.
This response is very similar to another that the CIS separates in its survey and that corresponds to 17.5% of those surveyed, who are those who are most overwhelmed by the effect of covid-19 on health and well-being emotional.
21.2% are more concerned about how it affects the economy.
The CIS presents several scenes lived in recent months to find out which ones have caused the most unrest among Spaniards.
83.2% claim to have felt uneasy to see empty streets and shops;
78.4% for the suspension of social contacts;
78.2% for fear of the future and 63.9% for losing their job or having it happen to a relative.
More than half of those surveyed state that they had been afraid of not recovering their life before the pandemic (59.5%), of getting sick (57.5%) and of not undertaking projects such as emancipation, opening a business or taking a trip ( 51.9%).
A quarter of those surveyed (24.1%) claim to have suffered from the loss of a family member, friend or acquaintance.
The effect of confinement
The months of confinement (from March to June) distorted our social habits.
We repeat these activities more than what was normal before the start of the pandemic: be more aware of the family (83.6%), contact our relatives by video call (81.7% of respondents), follow the news (76 , 2%) and perform household chores (73.9%).
In addition, beyond confinement, 78% say they stay much or considerably longer at home than before the coronavirus crisis, which coincides with perimeter confinements and the closure of non-essential activity in some territories.
The stage in which we could not leave home served many people to reflect on their lives, as can be seen from the CIS study.
51.6% have made resolutions to improve their health, 50.5% to take care of their physical shape and 42.4% to pay more attention to their eating habits.
Despite all the problems, 69.6% consider themselves optimistic about their future, a percentage that falls when respondents are asked about the future of children, grandchildren and other young relatives: 54.1%.
Regarding how tomorrow will be in Spain, 43.6% declare themselves very or somewhat optimistic, compared to 35.7% not very optimistic and 18.2% who do not keep an iota of optimism.
85.7% of the population believe that the pandemic will last much longer.
The survey was conducted between October 23 and 31, 2020, before the announcement of the preliminary results of the Pfizer vaccine, which promises an efficacy of 90%.
On the other hand, 7.3% of those surveyed claim to have resorted to professional help due to their emotional state during the pandemic.
Of the total number of people who have required these services, 54.3% have seen the psychologist, 41.4% the family doctor and 26.2% the psychiatrist.
Information about the coronavirus
- Here you can follow the last hour on the evolution of the pandemic
- This is how the coronavirus curve evolves in the world
- Download the tracking application for Spain
- Guide to action against the disease