The Bupa Wellbeing Index
What is the Bupa Wellbeing Index?
Over recent decades, healthcare has evolved. From ageing populations to digital advancements, our expectations of healthcare have evolved too. Most notably, the COVID-19 pandemic created lasting shifts in lifestyles and health.
In a post-pandemic world, we'd like to know how people feel about their health. Both physical and mental. That's why we launched the Bupa Wellbeing Index†. With over 8,000 participants across the UK, we can learn about the nation's health and wellbeing. By understanding what people want from healthcare, we can fulfil our purpose:
Helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.
A word from Carlos Jaureguizar, CEO of Bupa Global, India & UK
July 2024
Family is the bedrock of our lives. In today's society, families come in all shapes and sizes, diverging in wonderful ways from the traditional 2.4 household. In this we're all united by what matters most: the health and wellbeing of our nearest and dearest.
As people are living longer, we're seeing more generations of families living under one roof or nearby. While this brings the joy of togetherness, knowledge and traditions through generations, it also creates a new set of challenges, particularly for those entrusted with the responsibility of multigenerational health.
This chapter of the Bupa Wellbeing Index looks into the changing demographic of primary carers within family units. The latest insights reveal that millennials, those aged between 25 and 44, are increasingly taking on the role of primary caregivers across multiple generations, becoming directly responsible for keeping more generations of their loved ones well, and thereby becoming the Missing Middle missing out on their career, health and social occasions.
Finding themselves between the needs of aging parents, grandparents, siblings and their own children, the Missing Middle face mounting pressures at a time when they are building careers and transitioning through important life stages such as growing families, buying homes and building their pensions.
The additional tasks of accommodating unexpected healthcare appointments, medication schedules and illnesses, often for multiple family members at the same time, builds the pressure of responsibility and takes a toll on their physical and mental wellbeing. Social isolation and being missing from occasions that bring joy and maintain positive mental health only intensifies these pressures.
We believe employers have an important role to play in keeping their workforce healthy. Millennials are critical for the workplace and driving the UK economy. A loss of talent has a direct impact on an organisation s ability to grow, innovate and succeed. So, we're calling for recognition and action in the workplace to support those managing generations of family health.
We examine the physical and mental health impacts of multigenerational health responsibilities on millennials, their employers and wider society. Our latest insights show that many millennials say their work-life balance and career have been impacted by caring for loved ones. While this can be incredibly rewarding, it can come at the cost of missed opportunities for career advancement and social occasions, which are often a much needed outlet for positive mental health.
Even worse is the fact that it's often unrecognised or even dismissed as an excuse not to participate by those who don't understand the pressures these people are under.
At Bupa and across society, we want to help foster an environment where every individual is supported in the workplace, to thrive and be their best, as well as manage the responsibilities and needs that come through life. We work with organisations of all sizes as a healthcare partner to promote positive employee health and wellbeing and within this, we are seeing increasing demand for family health support. This includes services, resources and support structures to help people manage the health needs of loved ones, as well as access the care they need for their own health.
By working together, employers and society can create a supportive environment for millennials facing a pressure cooker of multigenerational family health, career and financial responsibilities, relieving the pressures on this Missing Middle, where possible, so that these individuals can thrive.
Explore the Wellbeing Index
Chapters 1 and 2
Barometer baselines
How has healthcare changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? We uncover how the pandemic altered our health, our priorities and what action we’re taking to look after our health.
What this means for the future
Explore how the lifestyle changes we made during the pandemic fare in the future. Also learn about the challenges and barriers we face when trying to stick to healthier habits.
Chapters 1 and 2
(PDF, 1.6MB)
Chapters 3 and 4
Health and wellbeing improvements
Has our health improved since the pandemic? Discover how people view the condition of their mental and physical health. We also learn more about how our health needs have evolved in recent years
The workplace frontline for healthcare and support
Employees' focus on health has shifted. Explore how the importance of employers supporting health and wellbeing has grown. We also take a look at what benefits employees are looking for from their employer.
Chapters 3 and 4
(PDF, 1.0MB)
Chapters 5 and 6
Healthy planet, healthy people
Employees and the environment go hand in hand. Discover how the health of people and our planet relate to one another. We also take a look at the future workforce. Gen Z and Millennials are feeling the burden of climate change so we explore how employers can help.
Tackling the stigmas and taboos around women's health
This report examines some of the most persistent stigmas and challenges around symptoms and conditions related to women s health. Explore the important role employers can play by embracing the future of women's health.
Chapter 5
(PDF, 1.7MB)
Chapter 6
(PDF, 1.7MB)
Chapter 7
Multigenerational health and the missing middle
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Discover more about multigenerational health and how a portion of the UK population are missing out on career opportunities, social occasions and looking after their own health.
The new generations
This report explores the complex needs of multigenerational family health as people live longer and family trees evolve. It investigates the effects on caregivers social and professional lives and the impact on their physical and mental health.
Chapter 7
(PDF, 1.7MB)
Advice and tools for your health and wellbeing
At Bupa we produce free health information for you and those around you. Find information about conditions, treatments and procedures. You’ll also find advice from our experts about staying healthy and living well.
† Bupa commissioned Censuswide to poll a nationally representative sample of 8,185 UK adults. The data was collected between 18.03.2022 - 24.03.2022. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles.
Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No.3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Bupa Health Assessments and Occupational Health services are provided by Bupa Occupational Health Limited. Registered in England and Wales No.631336. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.
