ESC: City Health Week 2025 |

Survey Results

A Complete Analysis of Health in Trnava: A Tale of Two Generations

A City Health Week is a community-focused initiative designed to raise health awareness and promote well-being through accessible local events. As part of this year’s initiative in Trnava, a survey of 21 residents was conducted to provide a data-driven look into the community’s most pressing health concerns. The findings reveal a complex picture of physical health, healthcare access, and mental strain, with perspectives dominated by the city’s younger generations. The survey’s participants were predominantly young and educated; two-thirds (66.7%) were between the ages of 18 and 25, with another 23.8% aged 26–35. The group was split almost evenly between male (52.4%) and female (47.6%) respondents, with the majority holding at least a high school diploma (71.4%) or a university degree (28.6%).

Trying to understand the relationship that Trnava residents have with health, we walked around the city to administer our survey.
We divided our population sample by gender, age, education level, and the presence or absence of medical conditions, and we focused on three main areas: lifestyle and habits, health access, and mental health.

The Physical Health Paradox

A central finding from the data is the significant gap between residents‘ perception of their health and their day-to-day lifestyle habits. A large majority of participants (76.2%) rate their own health as good or excellent.

This confidence, however, is juxtaposed with their eating and lifestyle patterns. Only 14.3% of respondents report having balanced and regular meals. Most people skip meals or snack on the go. While over half of the respondents (52.4%) are non-smokers, 19% smoke regularly. Interestingly, those who smoke recognize it as a habit they should quit to improve their health. Other frequently mentioned improvements included reducing junk food consumption and exercising more. Encouragingly, the majority drink at least one liter of water per day, see a healthcare provider at least every two years, and sleep between 6 and 9 hours per night.

An interesting gender-based difference emerged: women tend to take action when they’re sick—by self-medicating or calling a doctor—while men are more likely to wait it out, sometimes until the condition worsens.

Navigating Healthcare: A System Under Pressure

The survey reveals widespread dissatisfaction with healthcare accessibility, which directly influences how residents behave when they fall ill. An overwhelming 85.7% of respondents delay or avoid seeking immediate medical attention. The most common reaction to sickness is to self-medicate (47.6%), followed by waiting for the illness to pass (23.8%).

This behavior also shows age-related differences: while self-medication is most common among those aged 26–35, the younger 18–25 cohort is more inclined to wait without intervention. Many residents also noted the lengthy waiting times for appointments as a major barrier, although their responses varied from “2 weeks” to “several months.” As a result, approximately half of the participants use private healthcare, especially for services like dentistry or gynecology.

Satisfaction with the healthcare system was described as “average,” reflecting a system that is functional but often frustrating.

The Mental Wellness Divide: An Age-Dependent Struggle

The data uncovers a significant and nuanced mental health challenge among Trnava’s younger generations. Nearly half of all participants (47.6%) report experiencing high to extreme levels of stress. This is reflected in their energy levels, where not a single respondent felt “full of energy,” and 42.9% rated their energy at a low 2 out of 5.

Stressors differ notably by age: students (18–25) primarily cited school and academic pressure, while those aged 26–35 emphasized work and career-related stress. Across all groups, financial concerns also emerged as a major contributor to stress.

Despite these challenges, the community exhibits a strong sense of resilience. All participants reported having a solid support system made up of family and/or friends—an important buffer against mental health struggles.

Conclusion: Key Findings

In summary, the survey of 21 Trnava residents highlights four key realities:

Perception vs. Reality: Most residents feel they are in good health (76.2%), but their lifestyle habits, particularly diet (only 14.3% eat balanced meals), do not align with this perception.
Healthcare Avoidance: The vast majority (85.7%) delay seeking professional medical care when sick, a behavior tied to dissatisfaction with waiting times and that varies by age group.
Age-Specific Stress: High stress affects nearly half of the respondents (47.6%), with the primary source shifting from academic pressure in the 18–25 age group to career pressure in the 26–35 age group.
Community Resilience: A near-universal sense of social support (95.2%) exists as a crucial asset for mental well-being across all age groups.