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Degree of freedom of life is 54.9 points in February 2021
Drops for the third consecutive month
Activity restriction also strengthens for the third month in a row

Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living, a think tank of Hakuhodo Inc., in February 2021 conducted its eleventh “Survey of Sei-katsu-sha Concerning COVID-19” to understand sei-katsu-sha’s attitudes and behaviors during the coronavirus. The survey was conducted February 1–3, 2021 in the Greater Tokyo (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama and Ibaraki Prefectures), Greater Nagoya (Aichi, Mie and Gifu Prefectures) and Hanshin (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Nara Prefectures) areas, targeting 1,500 males and females aged 20–69. See p.14 for the survey outline.

On January 7, another state of emergency was called in Tokyo and three adjoining prefectures, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba (extending to cover an additional seven prefectures on January 13), with restaurants and bars requested to further shorten their business hours, among other measures, as patients with severe symptoms continued to increase. The survey was conducted against this background, and as the media each day reported the huge strain the medical system was under, and discussions about extending the state of emergency in the lead up to the decision to extend it (until March 7) on February 2.

When we asked sei-katsu-sha to rate their freedom of life under current circumstances if their normal life prior to the spread of COVID-19 rated 100 points, the result was 54.9 points, down 1.4 points since January. This was the third month in a row that the rating dropped.

While scores for Degree of anxiety as a result of the spread of the coronavirus did not change much since last month, scores for Degree of activity restriction were up across the board for the third consecutive month. In particular, the increase for Refrain from eating out (82.4%, up 6.7 points) was noticeable, followed by Refrain from travel and leisure activities (90.5%, up 3.8 points), Refrain from experiential entertainment (84.9%, up 3.6 points) and Refrain from meeting friends and socializing (85.4%, up 3.3 points).

In Degree of behavioral change, Telework as much as possible (those with jobs) (35.0%, up 7.4 points) rose significantly. Adjustment of commuting patterns stood out, with Commute to work/school during off-peak hours as much as possible (40.6%, up 3.9 points) also rising. Items related to behaviors inside the home also rose, including I’m home more, so I cook myself as much as possible (60.7%, up 4.4 points), I’m home more, so I’m doing exercises I can do at home (47.3%, up 3.4 points) and I’m home more, so I’m studying online (19.5%, up 2.9 points).

Sei-katsu-sha’s attitudes and behaviors had been shifting from outside to inside since November, and this trend seems to be strengthening, particularly regarding behaviors.

This survey will be conducted regularly for the time being (The survey content may be changed depending on changes in circumstances).

 

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