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The Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study

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    The Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study

    The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound effect on the lives of billions of people across the world – we’re living in a challenging time. Over a span of just a few months, we’ve found ourselves having to quickly and repeatedly change and adapt the way we work, live and stay connected.

    Since 2014, Cigna has been publishing the Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey and Index with results reflecting how people around the globe feel about their personal health and well-being. The survey questions are designed to gather information about five “pillars” of people’s lives: physical, financial, workplace, social and family wellness. This year, to ensure we are better able to support people during this unique time and in the still uncertain future landscape, we adapted our annual survey. We are conducting ongoing research – a Pulse Study - to understand the impact of COVID-19 on people’s well-being across the world.

    To date, we have engaged over 16,000 people across China, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States between January and June 2020. The results show the changes in attitudes during the crisis and are striking. Additional, future Pulse Studies are planned and we anticipate that the cumulative results will offer insights that will help us better support the global population’s evolving needs.  

    The Inaugural COVID-19 Global Impact Study

    April 2020

    At Cigna, we wanted to understand how people are responding to the global health crisis. How are they coping with the stresses of lockdown and what issues are now most worrying? How has the way we work changed? And how is COVID-19 impacting relationships with family, friends and others?

    To answer these questions and more, we embarked on a special research project to gather the insights needed to better appreciate and respond to the needs of our customers and clients during this period and beyond. This led us to launch the first edition of the Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study.

    In this first edition of this study – designed to gauge well-being at a specific moment in time – we saw that people’s overall well-being scores had not changed significantly. Although people were feeling more concerned about their finances and social networks than they were before the current health crisis, the benefits of having extended time with immediate family and working from home saw these measures remain consistent, despite huge pressures on work and family life.

    Click here to read the full results of the first wave of the global report.

    COVID-19 Global Impact Study: New Directions

    July 2020

    In the second edition of the Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study: New Directions, we sought to expand our view and data beyond a moment in time. Instead we wanted to monitor people’s well-being on a continuous basis – checking in with them as they navigate between the dynamic and different stages of the pandemic. Through our research, we are seeing a more balanced outlook emerging as people adjust to the new situation, though this is offset by increased levels of reported loneliness. We also see several significant trends emerging, particularly the growing and global demand for virtual health.

    This second wave of research was undertaken when most global regions were gradually re-opening. Overall, our research revealed that well-being has remained consistent since January, although the improvements noted in April have been reversed, with well-being generally returning back to pre-COVID-19 levels.

    Click here to read the full results of the second wave of the global report.

    COVID-19 Global Impact Study: Resilience and Well-being through the Pandemic

    September 2020

    In the third edition of the Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study: Resilience and Well-being through the Pandemic, we’re seeking to understand and assess global well-being as people move across and between the various stages of the pandemic.

    Our latest report reveals that now, more than nine months into the crisis, there is growing acknowledgement that humanity faces a long struggle to mitigate the pandemic’s worst potential outcomes. We have begun to see how tightening and loosening protective measures to stem the virus’s spread - and the resulting reductions and resurgence of cases - are beginning to impact people’s mental and physical well-being.

    But there are also positive aspects to report on. Through the study results, we have identified predictors of manageable and unmanageable stress. Large numbers of people are turning to their families, in turn nurturing their resiliency, and exhibiting an ability to adapt behaviors and find enjoyment in these changed and uncertain circumstances.

    Click here to read the full results of the third wave of the global report.

    COVID-19 Global Impact Study: Future Uncertainty Hangs Heavy

    December 2020

    In the fourth edition of the Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study: Future Uncertainty Hangs Heavy, we take the pulse of the global population a full year after the onset of COVID-19. Following months of pandemic-related lockdowns, changing restrictions on travel and social gatherings, and multiple waves of infection, people worldwide have become even more concerned for the future. Our latest study reveals that as these restrictions become a regular part of everyday life, financial security concerns are increasing and adversely impacting the populations' well-being.

    Global populations are now focused on understanding the long-term impacts of the pandemic and its impact on their future. Our previous pulse studies showed that people initially shared a universal perception of the impact of COVID-19. What is now clear is that perceptions are evolving at varying rates across the globe: regional populations are adapting to the changing landscape at different speeds, with a wider variety of emotional responses to the ongoing challenges of living in a COVID-19 world.

    Click here to read the full results of the fourth wave of the global report.

    COVID-19 Global Impact Study: Vaccine Roll-Out Leads Improved Perceptions on Whole Health

    February 2021

    Our latest edition of the COVID-19 Global Impact Study: Vaccine Roll-Out Leads Improved Perceptions on Whole Health addresses the initial impact of the vaccine roll-out and its anticipated approval across many markets. The results show the evolution of sentiments around the world; they are ebbing and flowing as new waves and restrictions impact individual markets giving populations reason for hope and/or concern. After months of adapting, pivoting and coping, we also see an emerging nostalgia for the normality of pre-pandemic life.  

    The world is a very different place since Cigna began this research back in early 2020, and we are seeing that some of the changes are here to stay, such as the use of virtual health care which continues to be a key feature of the care continuum. The pandemic forced providers to accelerate their adoption and caused a mind-set shift for many patients, resulting in radical changes in the way medical care is provided and enabling global populations to continue accessing the care they need even during COVID-19 restrictions. With increasing rates of adoption over the past year, the most current study results suggest that virtual health care is here for the long-term.

    Click here to read the full results of the fifth wave of the global report.

    Looking Ahead

    Cigna is researching the impacts of the pandemic over the long-term. Predicting how the pandemic will continue to unfold in our everyday lives is difficult, but there are reasons for hope. We have seen the scientific community unite and work at pace to develop not just one, but multiple vaccines to address COVID-19. We also have a greater appreciation for the small things in life, such as spending time with loved ones, going out for a meal or having a chat with a colleague in the office. While the fight against COVID-19 is far from over, when the pandemic is over, we will find that this transformative period has changed the way we think about health care and the importance of taking care of our whole health. 

    This article serves only as a reference and is intended for informational purposes only. Nothing in this article constitutes legal, tax, financial planning, health or medical advice including diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Any reference to products or services offered by Cigna are available except where prohibited by applicable law and subject to terms and conditions.

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