Latest news from the CIS

El CIS ha realizado la primera encuesta sobre felicidad y valores sociales en la que el 80,4% de los españoles han asegurado ser personas felices, frente a un 11,4% que afirma que no lo son. Además, hay un 7,7% que dice que “depende o en parte” del momento.  De las personas que no se consideran felices o que han asegurado que “depende o en parte” -un 19,1% en total-, un 21,8% dice que “mejorar el estado de salud propio o del entorno” ayudaría a ser más feliz, un 21,4% asegura que le ayudaría “mejorar la situación económica propia o del entorno” y un 16,6% afirma que le haría feliz “mejorar las relaciones sociales, familiares y afectivas”. Sobre las personas que aseguran ser felices, el 25,2% afirma que “mejorar la situación económica, propia o del entorno” les ayudaría a ser aún más felices, un 19,5% dice que lo haría “mejorar su situación laboral”. El 83% está de acuerdo con que “solo se puede ser feliz si también lo son las personas que te rodean”, frente a un 12,8% que está “muy o bastante en desacuerdo” con esta afirmación”. Un 89,6% de los españoles afirma que “lo más importante en la vida es ser feliz”, frente a un 8,4% que cree que no, además, un 92,1% coincide en que “siempre hay que respetar las opiniones de los demás, aunque sean diferentes a las propias”, y un 95,9% coincide en que “todas las personas tienen derecho a elegir libremente qué quieren ser y cómo quieren vivir”. En una escala del 1 al 10, los españoles sacan notable (7,18) sobre llevar la mejor vida posible. Además, un 52,3% asegura que le resulta “muy fácil o fácil” enfrentarse a los problemas importantes que le surgen en la vida cotidiana, mientras que un 41,3% asegura que le resulta “muy difícil o difícil”.  Valores sociales El 87,6% de los encuestados entiende que “además del matrimonio existen muchas otras formas aceptables de relacionarse en pareja”, el 54,9% cree que los colegios y los institutos cada vez tienen menor peso en la formación de los niños y jóvenes” frente a un 39,6% que no lo ve así. El 83,9% está “muy o bastante de acuerdo” con que la crisis climática es una amenaza real para el bienestar humano y la salud del planeta”, mientras que un 14,2% cree que no. El 91,4% está a favor de “lograr la plena igualdad entre hombres y mujeres en todos los ámbitos de la vida”, frente a un 7,5% que está en contra de esta afirmación. Y el 81,2% asegura “que la democracia es preferible a cualquier otra forma de gobierno, siempre y en cualquier circunstancia”, frente a un 15,2% que asegura que está “muy o bastante en desacuerdo” con esta afirmación. Estos y otros datos se encuentran recogidos en el estudio ‘Felicidad y valores sociales’ realizado del 26 al 28 de julio con 2.843 entrevistas.

On July 26, at 13:00 p.m., the preview of the results of the study 'Opinión pública y política fiscal (XLI)' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

The study 3461 'Índice de Confianza del Consumidor (ICC). Mayo 2024' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

On July 24, at 13:00 p.m., the preview of the results of the study 'Felicidad y valores sociales' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

On July 23, at 13:00 p.m., the preview of the results of the ICC (Índice de Confianza del Consumidor) will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). The ICC collects monthly the assessment of the recent evolution and expectations of Spanish consumers related to their family economy, employment and their savings and consumption possibilities. For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

The seminar "Structure and Social Change in Contemporary Spain," organized by the CIS (National University of Madrid) and the UIMP (United Nations Institute of Public Education) has concluded after a week of presentations by various specialists and academics. The course concluded with presentations by Sociology professor Verónica Díaz, who spoke about young Spaniards and their future, and by Professor Óscar Iglesias, who spoke about old and new cultures in Spanish society. This Thursday's seminar focused on economics. Professor of Economic History Carles Manera spoke about the recent evolution of the Spanish economy in the wake of COVID-19. We were also joined by Professor of Economics Pedro Casares, who discussed the evolution and prospects of the Spanish economy within the European framework. Women also had a special focus at this seminar. CIS Research Director Silvia García Ramos focused her presentation on gender stereotypes in Spanish society. And Sociology Professor Carlota Solé spoke about immigrant women.

The president of the CIS, José Félix Tezanos, opened the seminar "Structure and Social Change in Contemporary Spain" with his presentation on trends in change and social inequalities in Spanish society. The Director of Publications and Research Promotion at the CIS, Rorsario H. Sánchez Morales, addressed poverty and social exclusion during the first day of the course. Finally, Emeritus Professor and National Sociology Prize winner Inés Alberdi spoke about the new forms and modes of interpersonal relationships in our country.

The summer course "Social Structure and Change in Contemporary Spain" begins next Monday. Its objective is to analyze the main dimensions that shape Spain's social structure, its evolution, and its international comparative perspective. To this end, the course will analyze: structural trends and changes in Spanish society, from poverty and social exclusion to the role of political parties and the changes taking place in voting behavior. The situation of women and feminism as a driving force for change will also be addressed; the values, ideologies, and beliefs existing in Spanish society; scientific culture in Spain; migration processes; the situation of young people and their future; and old and new cultures and mentalities in Spanish society. The conferences will attempt to unite the plurality and diversity of theoretical and methodological approaches to address the evolution of Spanish society. The president of the CIS, Jose Félix Tezanos, will open the course, which will also include experts such as Inés Alberdi, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the Carlos III University; Constanza Tobío, Professor of Sociology at the Carlos III University of Madrid; Rafael Pardo, Director of the BBVA Foundation and Professor of Sociology; Carles Manera, Professor of Economic History at the University of the Balearic Islands and Board Member of the Bank of Spain; and Antón Losada, journalist and Professor of Political Science at the University of Santiago de Compostela. Every summer, the UIMP programs and delivers high-profile academic courses in various disciplines and areas of knowledge at the Magdalena Palace and the Las Llamas Campus in Santander. In addition to their educational nature, their purpose is to promote encounters, reflection, and debate on topics at the forefront of knowledge, as well as interdisciplinary analysis of issues that concern the future of our societies. Check out the full course program on our website www.cis.es.

The CIS conducted its July poll, including the usual questions such as vote estimates and ministerial assessments. The PSOE would be the leading force with 32.9% of the vote, the PP would be at 30.2%, VOX at 12.2%, SUMAR at 6.6%, and Podemos at 4%. 69.9% of those who voted in the general elections on July 23, 2023, would vote for the same party or coalition they voted for in the next election. Another 15.7% say they would vote for a different party or coalition. Preferences over leaders Regarding the preference for Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez is the favorite with 26.5% of the votes, 13.5% prefer Alberto Núñez Feijóo, 6.8% prefer Santiago Abascal, and 4.7% prefer Yolanda Díaz. Among those surveyed, the gaps widen: 42.6% of those surveyed who gave their opinion prefer Pedro Sánchez as Prime Minister, 20.9 points ahead of Feijóo, whom 21.7% prefer. In third place is Santiago Abascal, with 10.9%, followed by Yolanda Ayuso, with 7.5%, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, with 5.9%. Regarding the leaders' ratings, Pedro Sánchez received a 4.32, Núñez Feijóo a 4.04, Yolanda Díaz a 4.09, and Abascal a 2.88. Regarding the ministers' ratings, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo received the highest rating, with a 5.22, and Defense Minister Margarita Robles, with a 5.13, was the second highest. Global problems 64.1% of respondents say they pay "a lot or quite a lot" of attention to news coming out of other countries, while 33.3% say they pay "little or none." 36.7% of the population believes that "wars and armed conflicts" are the main problem today, "poverty and inequality between poor and rich countries" is the second problem for 34%, and the climate crisis for 11.2%. 64.8% say they are "very or quite concerned" about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 18.1% say they are "somewhat concerned" and 16% "a little or not at all concerned." 65.5% say they are “very or quite concerned” about the war in the Middle East, 18.6% “somewhat concerned,” and 14.4% “a little or not at all concerned.” Furthermore, 76.8% believe that Spain should cooperate internationally to help less developed countries, compared to 18.9% who believe it should not. Addressing this issue, 66.2% believe the State should first guarantee "the well-being of the Spanish people and then that of other countries." However, 31% believe it should help these countries through projects. 70.9% of Spaniards are "very or quite a lot" concerned about the climate crisis. And 27.5% are "a little or not at all" concerned. Economic situation 65.4% of Spaniards consider their current personal financial situation to be very good or good, compared to 22.8% who say it is bad or very bad. When asked about Spain's overall economic situation, 35.9% consider it "very good or good" and 55.1% "very bad or bad." Regarding the three main problems affecting Spaniards, 27.7% say "the economic crisis and economic problems" are the most pressing, 16.6% say "healthcare," and 15.8% say problems related to the quality of employment. These and other data are collected in the July barometer, conducted from July 1 to 4 with 4,007 interviews. The complete data can be found on the website of the Center for Sociological Research (www.cis.es).

On July 12, at 1:00 p.m., the preview of the results of the 'Barómetro de julio 2024' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

The study 3465 'Postelectoral elecciones al Parlamento Europeo 2024' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

The study 3466 'Desigualdades y tendencias sociales' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

On July 9, at 12:30 p.m., the preview of the results of the study 'Postelectoral elecciones al Parlamento Europeo 2024' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

On July 5, at 12:30 p.m., the preview of the results of the ICC (Índice de Confianza del Consumidor) will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). The ICC collects monthly the assessment of the recent evolution and expectations of Spanish consumers related to their family economy, employment and their savings and consumption possibilities. For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

The study 3455 'Barómetro sanitario 2024 (primera oleada)' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

The first wave of the 2024 Health Barometer reveals a slight increase in population satisfaction with the public health system, which reached 6.26 points out of 10 in April, slightly exceeding the score of 6.14 recorded in the same period in 2023. Satisfaction with Primary Care experienced a slight increase, reaching 6.29 points compared to 6.19 the previous year. While specialized care remains positive, its score decreased from 5.95 to 5.86 points. On the other hand, emergency services (7.51 points) and hospital care (7.14 points) remain the most highly valued aspects of the healthcare system. Regarding waiting lists, the percentage of citizens who believe they have worsened has decreased by more than four percentage points, from 39.2% to 34.6%. 50.1% of the population still believes that public healthcare is financed in whole or in part by contributions from working people, and only 45.6% know that it is financed by taxes from all citizens. Primary Care 83.6% of primary care service users rate the care they receive positively. This percentage has increased slightly compared to 80.4% in 2023. The most highly rated aspects are the trust and security conveyed by both the nursing and medical staff (8.08 and 7.87 out of 10, respectively). Regarding wait times, 25.1% of those who made an appointment were seen by their primary care physician on the same day or the next day, five points more than last year's survey. The rest had an average wait of 8.3 days, compared to 9.12 in 2023. Furthermore, almost 80% of citizens who needed primary care assistance last year were seen in person. Specialties 42.3% have consulted a public health specialist in the last twelve months, either by referral from a Primary Care physician (37.2%) or by appointment from the specialist physician during a previous consultation (57.9%). 81.5% of users positively rate the care they receive, with no significant changes compared to 2023 (82.8%). The aspects most highly valued by users are the information they receive about their health problems and the trust and security instilled by the medical staff (7.74 and 7.73, respectively). Hospital admission 10.1% reported having been admitted to a public hospital in the last twelve months. 40.3% were scheduled for surgery or diagnostic testing; 56.9% for an urgent illness or health problem; and 2.8% for childbirth. 87.6% of public hospital users positively rate the care they received during their stay. The highest-rated aspects are the care provided by the various professionals (nursing, 8.46 points, and medicine, 8.39 points). Emergencies 44.6% of citizens admit to having visited a public health emergency service in the last twelve months. Primary care services accounted for 40.5% of the demand during this period, hospital emergency services accounted for 52.7%, and 6.5% used a 061/112 type emergency service. The National Health System's emergency services are rated positively by 76.5% of those who used them. Equality This year, 2024, the Health Barometer included a question about the population's perception of equal treatment in public healthcare based on various aspects. Nearly 40% of the general population perceives that services are not received equally depending on the autonomous community in which they live, and 36% also believe that treatment is unequal depending on the person's handling of new technologies. Socioeconomic status, or the age of the people served, are the aspects in which the greatest equality in treatment is perceived. Mental health This edition also explores, for the first time, some aspects related to the care of mental health problems. In April 2024, 17.8% of respondents reported having needed to consult a healthcare professional for a mental health problem or psychological or emotional distress. 46.3% received care in the public health system, 44.7% in the private health system, and 2.6% in both. Among those treated in the public health system, 40.1% reported being treated primarily by a psychiatric specialist, 33.1% by their family doctor, and 20.8% by a psychologist. Twenty-six percent of those who consulted a professional for mental health issues got their appointment in less than 30 days; 40% were seen within one to three months; and another 26% waited more than three months to receive a consultation. 78.9% of people treated in public healthcare stated they were satisfied with the care they received during their visit, and 49.0% reported receiving better care than they expected. Acceptance of vaccines The Health Barometer has also included, for the first time, a series of questions to assess the degree of acceptance of vaccine use among the general population. Vaccination acceptance in our country is high, despite the fact that 36.7% believe they cause adverse health effects. The level of agreement with the protective aspects of vaccines exceeds 90%, and 89.9% state they follow the recommendations of healthcare professionals regarding vaccination. Knowledge and use of technologies In this wave, the Health Barometer also asks about citizens' use of digital technologies to interact with the healthcare system. 55.9% of those interviewed reported having an electronic certificate for carrying out administrative procedures, and only 0.9% did not know what it was. This indicator is relevant since access to the interoperable NHS medical record and, in most cases, to regional medical records, requires a personal electronic certificate. 38.5% have accessed their electronic medical records, compared to 61.5% of those interviewed who have never accessed them: 32.2% of them were unaware of this possibility, and 19.3% do not know or cannot use the Internet. 60.4% of respondents know they can pick up medications prescribed by the public health system outside their autonomous community thanks to the interoperable electronic prescription system, and 44.3% of them have used this service. The Health Barometer is an annual public opinion survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) since 1993. The annual survey, the basis of the study, consists of approximately 7,800 home interviews with people aged 18 and over, in all Spanish provinces. The first wave was conducted in April 2024, with 2,576 interviews.

The study 3463 'Barómetro de junio 2024' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

On July 4, starting at 11:30 p.m., the study ‘Barómetro sanitario 2024 (primera oleada)' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). You will be able to access this study from the CIS website through the "Studies Catalog". For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

The summer course "The Study of Public Opinion in Democratic Societies" continues in El Escorial. This second session focused on communication and public opinion in modern democracies. EFE President Miguel Ángel Oliver emphasized the importance of verifying and cross-checking information. He also asserted that EFE itself is "a verification tool." "Journalism today is experiencing a more complex climate than a few years ago due to the fragmentation of society and the sheer number of media outlets," Oliver explained. José María Calviño, the former general director of RTVE, asserted that it was easier to report in the media in the past than it is now. "In the 1980s, TVE's goal was to bring news items closer to the public, not to provide the absolute truth," Calviño explained. The scientific study of Public Opinion was also discussed by Professor Antonio Alaminos, a member of the Scientific Council of the CIS. Alaminos explained that "predictive models in Spain make operational adjustments that are products of intuition," referring to private polling firms. Today, Professor of Sociology Gaspar Brändle also spoke about public opinion in Spain and its evolution.

On July 2, at 12:00 p.m., the preview of the results of the study 'Postelectoral de Cataluña. Elecciones autonómicas 2024' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.