How do Americans Handle Being Sick?

A survey by OnePoll/MDLive revealed some surprising facts about who handles illness better – men or women. The results also provided some interesting insights into what else goes on with people when they are sick. Click through the following slides for key findings.

Nearly 80% of women think they handle being sick better than men.

Fourty percent of Americans said their mom takes better care of them than their significant other does when they are sick. Men are likelier to agree that their mom takes better care of them than their partner does when they are sick at home (43% vs 35%).

When they are sick, women were likelier to want to be left alone (53%) than men (47%), while 58% of men said they still wished their moms could take care of them while sick.

Although most prefer to keep it to themselves when they’re sick (68%), more than a quarter of those surveyed said they prefer to let others know (28%).

Only a third of those polled claim they handle being sick “extremely well.” Nearly 80% of women think they handle being sick better than men; however, only 30% of men think the same.

When it comes to how they spend their day sick at home, more than half of respondents admit to abandoning at least some part of their hygiene routine (52%), with women being likelier to do so than men (59% vs 46%).

To pass the time being sick at home over this past year, 1 in 9 preferred being productive vs spending time relaxing, with men being 2-times more likely to exercise than women (20% vs 9%).

And while 20% of those surveyed have pretended to work while sick at home, nearly half have actually worked through sickness (49%).

For many, taking a sick day off is worse than simply working while sick (23%), with more than half (55%) of respondents waiting until the last second when their symptoms get in the way before taking a sick day.

For those who work from home when sick, 20% admit to moving their laptop mouse around so their employer thinks they’re working (19%). That’s likely because sick days are stressful for respondents who are concerned about falling behind on work (41%) and not getting paid the same (39%).

A quarter of those surveyed said that spending the day at the doctor’s office is the most stressful part about being sick (26%). A majority of respondents agree that spending at least part of a sick day at the doctor’s office is more of a hassle than it’s worth (72%), with 39% preferring telehealth visits.