The survey reveals a very real divide in Finland between the successful and the dissatisfied.
According to the survey, of those who exercise at least three times a week, 85 percent consider themselves healthy, 63 percent—happy, and 66 percent—satisfied in their interpersonal relationships. Among those who exercise only once a week, the corresponding figures are 29 percent, 49 percent and 53 percent.
Only a third of Finns exercise a minimum of three times a week, while another third do not work out even once weekly. The over 55-year-olds boast the highest percentage of those who exercise at least three times a week—46 percent.
The importance of eating healthily
Diet also has a very clear correlation with happiness, more so than profession, income level or gender. Among people who eat fairly healthily, happiness manifests twice as often as among those who do not abide by particularly healthy diets.
Only about half of Finns eat fresh vegetables daily, and about every other Finn is overweight.
According to the survey, 38 percent of people wish for health, intimacy and better relationships before money.
“As opposed to drawing notice to economic fluctuations, it’s more important to attract the society’s attention to the fact that a bad physical shape and an unhealthy diet serve to weaken Finns’ momentum and motivation to do work,” says Redera’s Chief Executive Officer Isa Merikallio.
A working relationship
The survey was also revealing as to people’s attitude to their work place—of the respondents aged 25-55, 66 percent women and 56 percent men seek to be more appreciated at work.
Feeling underappreciated at work goes hand in hand with plans to change jobs. According to the survey, over a third of under 45-year-olds working full-time weekly consider a change in workplace. Of those who are satisfied with the appreciation they get, only 12 percent do the same.
“According to the research, over a half of full-time workers who regularly exercise would be ready to take on more working hours and responsibility. However, those who exercise rarely only 30 percent would be ready to increase their workload,” Merikallio details.
The lure of the Internet
Social media is important to 38 percent of women respondents and 28 percent of men respondents. Among all under 25-year-olds, 71 percent consider social media to be important.
According to the survey, people find relationships maintained over the internet satisfactory. Those who deem social media to be important are as happy with their interpersonal and romantic relationships as those who do not. However, among those who highly value social media, 10 percent would rather part with their spouse than their social media outlets.
Over 50-year-olds are catching up with youth in internet usage. 40 percent of them have included internet in their means to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances, and 40 percent believe than their internet usage will still go up.
Two thirds of the survey’s respondents would rather give up television than internet, and a third would rather relinquish their car. Usage of internet for entertainment purposes has gone up by a third.
In February and March, 1,142 people aged 15-70 participated in the survey, which has been repeated every other year, starting in 2003. The study was conducted through an internet questionnaire and randomised personal inquiries. The study sample was taken from southern and western Finland and thus is not geographically comprehensive. The main aim of the study is to stir up discussion in society.