fear is a response that people give in situations in which something is perceived as threatening, and this can be both real and fictitious. The brain of human beings is designed to anticipate dangers and, therefore, to protect itself, a factor that would support the explanation that we often react even before a real risk can be presented to us.
To all this we must add personal experiences, the education that has been instilled or the social influences of those who are close, which can also influence what is considered disturbing. Thus, not everyone has the same reaction when receiving a stimulus; Some will ‘be scared shitless’ and maybe others will burst out laughing, who knows?
Uncertainty is also born from fear. The reaction you have to something that cannot be controlled, basically. Not being able to influence a specific thing causes concern for many, and a very representative case of this is the passage of time.. “Dust you are and to dust you will return,” says the Bible. People are not prepared for the end of their lives to come and, surely, if someone is asked on the street what their greatest fear is, they will answer the following: “dying.”
Cognitive deterioration is the main fear for 70% of Spaniards
Aging is a process that must be passed before death. The crises of 40, 50 and 60 are very common and, surely, in a few years we will already be talking about the crisis of 30. The fear that Spaniards have of growing up is such that, when the time comes, many prioritize mental and physical health over appearance. We all want young people, but unfortunately this is not something that can be asked of the Three Wise Men.
According to the survey by the consulting firms Alpha Research and Burson for Asisa, seven out of ten Spaniards say that cognitive deterioration is their main fear, above the passage of time or changes on a physical level.; These last two aspects only concern 15% of the rest of the study subjects. 87% of the 2,000 people between 30 and 50 years old who participated in this research have assured that Spaniards only focus on solving aging with aesthetic methods. Besides, 95% of the total have stated that their main concern is health and well-being rather than appearance.
The survey has not generalized the values only to Spain, but has also specified the results based on our autonomous communities. Regarding the loss of mental capacity, the most alarmed citizens are those who come from Castilla-La Mancha and Aragón, with 78% and 75% respectively.
Cantabria, the community that most fears aging, even above the national average
Besides, Those most afraid of worsening physical appearance are located in Cantabria with 20%, although in the Balearic Islands this emotion corresponds, practically, with the same value; The national average is 15%. Furthermore, women express it more than men (76% over 66%), especially when talking about getting older or having to be a dependent person who, due to old age, cannot carry out some tasks autonomously.
To try to delay as much as possible the moment in which they grow older and lose physical and mental abilities, those surveyed have emphasized that they have already prepared to achieve this. According to the survey, nine out of ten Spaniards include daily exercises in their routines linked to greater physical performance (54%) and nutrition (52%): They exercise and eat better.
Spaniards expect a good future when they reach old age
In fact, More than 90% assure that maintaining a good mental attitude is vital so that the aging process is as least harmful as possible. Finally, the research concludes that the future is perceived favorably by Spaniards, as long as all the well-being methods now mentioned are met. 37% say they hope to be in good health and be totally independent when they reach 70 years old.