EVERETT — This year’s results of a Providence survey in Snohomish County showed physical health and financial security as top drivers of well-being among residents.
The Providence Institute for a Healthier Community published the results of its annual survey of Snohomish County residents Monday. For about 10 years, the institute has conducted the Snohomish County Health and Well-Being Monitor, which looks to measure how community members define health and well-being. This year, the institute surveyed more than 700 Snohomish County residents.
The survey asked residents about six drivers of well-being: personal relationships, emotional health, neighborhood quality, work satisfaction, financial security and physical health.
This year was the first time in the history of the survey that financial security was the second-highest indicator of overall well-being. About 46% of respondents said they have a high ability to meet their basic needs, compared to 54% last year. The top needs respondents reported included education, health care, jobs, utilities and housing.
“It’s interesting to see, and probably a sign of the times,” said Jessica Burt, spokesperson for the Providence Institute for a Healthier Community. “That’s something that’s new in the data.”
Physical health has consistently been the top driver of well-being over the past 10 years. This year, fewer than 1 in 4 people rated their physical health highly.
Overall well-being has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, Burt said. Each year, the institute determines an average well-being score. This year, the score was 7.0 out of 10, down from 7.7 in 2017.
For mental health, the number of people who reported a strong sense of purpose and meaning declined, and about 36% of people reported discrimination as a top concern, compared to 25% of people in 2017. Less than a quarter of respondents felt they could make a significant impact on their community, down from 36% in 2024 and 43% in 2023.
The survey also revealed some positive trends. Participants reported increased relationship satisfaction and neighborhood quality. Fruit and vegetable intake increased and job satisfaction is stable.
Burt said she hopes the survey results help guide deeper conversations in the Snohomish County health care community.
“We do have some security, basic needs and financial measures that have kind of creeped in there the last few years, but ultimately it has to be where there’s energy to start, where there’s capacity start, where there’s time and resources to start,” she said. “We encourage people to start small, build confidence and look for a win.”