Americans report slightly higher vitality for first time since 2022, Cigna study finds

Slowly but surely, Americans are regaining their vigor. The third annual Vitality in America report from The Cigna Group found a 2% shift in people with medium to high vitality, which is the first sign of improvement since 2022.

“Vitality is a measure of overall health and wellbeing and, ultimately, human performance,” said David M. Cordani, chairman and CEO of Cigna. “While most of our health care dollars are spent on fixing things after they break, vitality presents an opportunity to look more broadly and identify ways to keep people healthy in the first place. Focusing on vitality offers a sustainable guidepost to make our employment landscape and our communities better.”

Among the key findings from the report:

• Gen Z adults still report the lowest levels of vitality but show double-digit improvements in vitality building blocks. Gen Z adults indicate positive changes in their autonomy and competence, which are foundational for vitality. They are steadily acquiring skills for a healthy life, feeling more in control during stressful times, gaining confidence in health goals and becoming more optimistic since 2022.
• Sleep quality is highly connected to vitality. Although people report getting the same amount of sleep since 2022, the quality is declining, with 45% waking up feeling rested compared to 53% in 2022. People with high vitality are more than five times as likely to say they wake up feeling well rested.
• High vitality is linked to higher job satisfaction and better job performance. Workers with high vitality are more engaged and willing to put in extra effort. For example, 86% of high-vitality employees are ready to work harder to help their workplace succeed, compared to 43% of low-vitality workers.
• Manager relationships affect worker mental health and vitality. People with high vitality report significantly more positive relationships with their managers. For example, high-vitality workers are more than four times as likely to feel understood by their manager.
• Prolonged sitting during the workday significantly affects vitality. Workers who sit for six-plus hours daily have lower vitality, poorer health and engage in fewer healthy behaviors compared to those who sit less. The lowest vitality workers are the one in six individuals who are completely sedentary, spending the eight-hour workday sitting down.

Related: Employee wellness hits an all time low

“These findings offer some actionable insights for both individuals and employers,” said Dr. Stuart Lustig, Cigna’s national medical executive for behavioral health strategy and product design. “Employers have an opportunity to address workforce vitality by helping employees build and enhance meaningful workplace connections, and managers at every level of an organization can initiate discussions with their team members. Employers can also encourage their colleagues to take full advantage of their health benefits, which often include no-cost mental health care and nutrition and fitness support, and can encourage healthier habits.”