The Self-Care in Spain Survey is an initiative designed to examine the habits and perceptions of the Spanish population regarding self-care. The results of the II Self-Care in Spain Survey confirm that self-care is increasingly recognised as one of the main pillars of people’s wellbeing.

The survey not only provided valuable insights into self-care behaviours and perceptions in Spain, but also generated significant media and stakeholder engagement, helping to raise awareness of prevention, health literacy and responsible self-care among citizens.

According to the study, 77.6% of Spaniards consider self-care “very important” for maintaining good health, while 74.8% describe their health as good or very good and 73% say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their lives. The survey provides an in-depth analysis of how people understand, practise and value self-care, as well as the main challenges and opportunities for strengthening prevention and health education in Spain.

Objectives

• Assess the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of the Spanish population regarding self-care and prevention.
• Identify barriers that hinder the adoption of healthy habits and responsible self-care practices.
• Generate evidence-based insights to support health literacy initiatives and prevention policies.
• Explore emerging issues affecting self-care, including mental health, environmental awareness and artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Target Audience

• Health authorities and policy makers
• Healthcare professionals
• Consumer Health industry stakeholders
• Journalists and media organisations
• Educational institutions
• Public health and patient organisations

Key Activities and Approach

• Development of a nationwide survey involving 5,103 adults across Spain, providing a representative overview of self-care perceptions and habits.
• Analysis of key areas including health and wellbeing, prevention, mental health, healthy lifestyles, sleep, sexual health, environmental awareness and the role of technology in healthcare.
• Presentation of findings through a dedicated media event featuring self-care experts and healthcare professionals.
• Dissemination of results through national and regional communications, infographics and stakeholder engagement activities.

Impact and Result

• 77.6% of Spaniards consider self-care very important for maintaining good health.
• 39% identify a lack of knowledge about how to practise self-care as one of the main barriers to adopting healthier behaviours.
• Family and social relationships (67.3%), financial difficulties (66.7%), work (55.9%) and access to housing (52.5%) are among the main factors affecting mental wellbeing.
• Four in ten Spaniards undergo preventive health check-ups every year despite having no symptoms, highlighting growing awareness of prevention.
• 72.7% believe health education should be accessible in all schools.
• The survey reveals both optimism and caution regarding artificial intelligence in healthcare, with strong confidence in its potential benefits alongside concerns about medical decisions without human supervision.
• The survey generated extensive media attention, with more than 345 news items published across over 175 national, regional, general-interest and specialised media outlets, including news agencies, healthcare publications, mainstream newspapers, women’s magazines and business media.
• The communication campaign achieved an estimated audience reach of more than 80 million people, reinforcing the visibility of self-care, prevention and health education among the Spanish population.
• Several interviews were conducted on leading national radio programmes, further amplifying the study’s findings and positioning anefp as a key source of information on self-care and prevention.

Insights and Takeaways for Others

• Self-care is increasingly perceived as an essential component of health and wellbeing, rather than solely a response to illness.
• Health literacy remains a critical challenge, as many citizens still lack the knowledge needed to put self-care into practice effectively.
• Mental wellbeing, housing access and financial concerns have become important determinants of self-care and overall health.
• Citizens value innovation in healthcare but expect technology, including artificial intelligence, to complement rather than replace professional judgement.
• Evidence-based data can help inform public policies and strengthen collaboration between healthcare stakeholders in promoting prevention and responsible self-care.

Additional Resources and Contact

• More information: II Radiografía del Autocuidado de la Salud en España (Spanish)
• Campaign contact: nuria.sastre@anefp.org