Women more worried about health than men: Survey

Many Finns, particularly women are worried about their own and their loved ones' health, according to a survey commissioned by OP Life Assurance Company.

Around one in five women and one in ten men are very are extremely worried about their health, said OP in a press release on Monday referring to the survey, adding that this may be due to fear of the financial consequences of illness.

To some extent, these concerns cut across age groups, but women aged 40 to 49 stand out: 25% of such women are very or extremely worried about their health. Only 7% of men in the same age group feel the same.

International studies indicate that women live longer than men, but tend to accumulate more long-term health problems and symptoms during their lives. This may partly explain their level of concern.

"Women also tend to worry about the health of their loved ones as well as their own, especially during the busy, child-rearing years. We women may be concerned about how our nearest and dearest will cope if our health fails," said Kristiina Michelsson, Chief Executive Officer of OP Life Assurance Company.

Finns are even more worried about the health of loved ones than about their own. About one third of women are very or extremely concerned about the health of a close person, while only 18% of men feel the same way.

"Care responsibilities are still unevenly distributed in Finland, with women tending to bear greater responsibility for children and grandparents. International studies have also identified a "worry gap", where women are often more concerned than men about the health and daily lives of loved ones," Michelsson added.

Michelsson pointed out that health concerns often stem from uncertainty about finances and livelihood.

"Illness can cause significant financial difficulties, alongside other worries. The income of average earners on long-term sick leave drops by about half when they move onto sickness allowance from Kela. For high earners, the drop is even more dramatic at around 70% for a monthly income of 7,000 euros, for example. Preparing for such possibilities through insurance or saving brings financial security and peace of mind," said Michelsson.