Filenews 7 November 2021 - by Androula Taramounta
The power of habit greatly affects Cypriot citizens, although the concerns, mainly financial as well as psychological, as a result of the pandemic, are not eliminated. And this is shown by the recording of the reactions of public opinion in the first barometer My Opinion, organized by the company Pulse Market Research, on behalf of "F" - it will be done every month recording reactions and positions on current affairs.
On the table was the issue that concerns our country as well as the global one, and it is the next day of the pandemic that has turned everything upside down in everything from the health sector, the economy, the labour sector, businesses, jobs to the everyday life of everyone as we knew it before the coronavirus violently invaded our lives.
Citizens appear to be concerned about their household finances and the impact on their children's psychology, but without being equally concerned about the course of the pandemic and the return to normality.
Cypriots seem to be primarily concerned about the impact on the psychology of children and adolescents due to the pandemic, the confinement and the necessary changes in the operation of schools. Seven out of ten citizens believe that the psychology of children and adolescents has been greatly affected. Only 3% take the opposite view. 26% of public opinion is of the opinion that the influence was made to a small extent. The most pronounced reports are made by young people, women and people who say they have not been vaccinated.
The percentage of those who say that their household's financial situation has been affected by the coronavirus is also at similar high levels. A total of 66% see impacts on their household. It is amazing that 32% of citizens say that their household has not been affected throughout these difficult months of the pandemic. The most intense reports are made by unvaccinated people and people who declare that they belong to the working class.
The laxity that has been presented in recent days in our country has its explanation as six out of ten citizens say that now the coronavirus worries them to some extent. There is a great deal of concern among 32% of citizens, at the same time as 9% of those who say they are not worried about the disease. The most intense concerns are expressed by older people, middle-to-upper social class and people who declare themselves vaccinated. The percentage of those concerned about the day after the pandemic stands at 59%.
The large portion of the population, however, appears to be optimistic that their lives will return to normality, as before the coronavirus. 65% of citizens believe that their lives will be the same as before the pandemic, either immediately or over a period of time. Specifically, 11% believe that their life will be the same. Of the opinion that it will be their own life but after some time has elapsed, are 54%. 34% of those who believe that their lives will never be the same as in the pre-coronavirus era. More optimistic are men, people aged 35-49 years, as well as people in the highest levels of social classes. 57% of those vaccinated say that their lives will be the same but it will take some time.
57% say the pandemic has made them rethink some things in their lives.
25% say they have revised enough and 17% have not revised anything.
The findings of the survey in terms of priorities before and after the pandemic are also interesting.
>> Hobbies and interests were just as important both before and during the pandemic for 56%. The most important were for the 23%. And two points below is the percentage of those who say it was less important.
>> The acquisition of goods worked the same for the vast majority of citizens - for 62% specifically during the pandemic. 21% say the acquisition of goods for demonstration purposes was more important before the pandemic as opposed to 17% who say it was less important.
>>In the question of how important it was for them before the pandemic, quality time with loved ones, 54% said it was just as important. For 19% it was more important and for 28% it was less important before the pandemic.
>>The "work" chapter for 72% of public opinion was the same before the pandemic. A point that is shared by both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. 10% say it was less important and 18% say it was more important.
>>Sport entered the lives of some Cypriots, it seems after the pandemic. For 60% it was just as important before coronavirus. It was less important for 26% and more important for 15%.
>>Nutritional habits were hardly affected. 72% say that diet was the same before the pandemic, while 13% rate it more important and 15% consider it less important.
NEW HABITS
Family and loved ones are important to Cypriot citizens. This is recorded in the survey. When asked about the habits they have acquired due to the pandemic, 53% say they are devoting more time to the people they love. This figure is skyrocketing by 17 points upwards, in the question of the habits they want to maintain after the coronavirus. Specifically, 70% say they want to spend more time on people they love.
The next most popular answer to the habits gained in the time of the coronavirus is online communication with friends and family. 46% say they had this kind of communication and 15% say they will retain this.
35% say that due to the pandemic, they are devoting more time to acquiring knowledge and skills. 28% intend to keep this habit or include it in their schedule after the pandemic.
30% spend more time cooking, with 11% saying they will keep this habit after the coronavirus.
23% pay more attention to their diet at this time. 37% say they will pay more attention to it after the pandemic.
Cypriots do not seem to be sportsmen. 22% say they spend time exercising. Those who say they will spend more time after the pandemic stands at 36%.
16% say they spend more time dealing with sports activities, with the percentage slipping one point below, to 15% of those who will spend more time exercising in the future.
EXIT AND EXIT AGAIN
Cypriots want to go out. The question of what it is that they did during the pandemic and do not want to keep it, the lowest frequency for exits excels. 61% did not want to keep this option. This is followed by 41% of the time spent on Social Media. 27% will not remain in online communication with family or friends, 23% in online education and 22% in working from home. 6% made no mention.
A FEW CHANGED THEIR WORK
Has the pandemic led to citizens changing jobs? 19% answer in the affirmative. 56% say it was something they didn't think about and 25% think they thought about it but didn't.
17% got a pet during the pandemic. 64% say it was something they didn't think about and 18% say they thought about it but didn't.
Has the pandemic led citizens to move? 62% say they didn't think so. 15% moved and 23% thought about it but didn't.
Would they like to raise their family? 11% did. 71% did not think about it, while 17% thought about it but did not.
Buying a house was not among the choices of Cypriots during the pandemic. Only 8% bought a house for the first time. 22% thought about it but did not. 70% didn't think about it.
Travelling abroad is at the top of the list of habits that Cypriots want to return to. The figure soars to 68%. This is followed by gatherings with friends and family with 38%, physical contact with 35%, night outs with 22%, events with many people with 19%.
The consumption habits that Cypriots will keep after the pandemic are the execution of daily procedures electronically with a percentage of 72%, contactless electronic transactions 71%, delivery orders 48%. 6% will not continue with any habit.
