Silence and Fear: Death Remains a Taboo Topic for Austrians

A recent study by the market and opinion research institute IPSOS on behalf of Helvetia Insurance shows: Death remains a taboo subject for many people in Austria – with far-reaching consequences for personal provision.

Austrians Desire More Openness on the Topic of Death

Only about a third of Austrians deal with their own death, while the rest consciously avoid the topic. However, 59 percent of respondents wish for more openness in dealing with dying – especially women (67 percent) and younger people.

Despite the annual days of remembrance, the majority speak about the end of life at most once a year. The older people get, the less they discuss it – a paradoxical finding: While in the age group 25 to 34 years, 40 percent occasionally talk about it, only 18 percent of those over 66 do so.

Change in Funeral Culture

According to the study, 44 percent do not want to be buried like their parents or grandparents. 71 percent desire a simple burial, preferably as a cremation at the cemetery (34 percent). The traditional earth burial is losing significance – only 19 percent actively choose it. Women show stronger preferences for natural burials such as tree or Danube burials, while men more often prefer urn burials.

Even at the funeral service, the picture changes: More than half do not want a traditional ceremony, and one in ten completely rejects it. Many wish for a "joyful farewell celebration," according to study author Alexander Zeh (IPSOS).

Funeral Costs Often Underestimated

The financial aspect is often underestimated: Six out of ten respondents expect funeral costs to be between 4,000 and 8,000 euros. In reality, the range is wide, explains Alexander Hovorka, managing director of Bestattung Himmelblau: A simple urn burial is possible from about 2,500 euros, while a traditional earth burial starts at around 5,000 euros. Due to the burial and coffin requirements, cremation is not necessarily cheaper than a traditional burial.

Mini urns, memorial jewelry made from fingerprints or diamonds, and natural burials are becoming increasingly popular. Nevertheless, only 50 percent of the population have taken financial or organizational precautionary measures.

Fear and Avoidance: Precaution Often Postponed

The fear of one's own death affects 32 percent of respondents, particularly strongly among women (42 percent) and those aged 25 to 35 – here, every second person is afraid. This is also reflected in precautionary measures: Only 39 percent of women set aside money for their own funeral, compared to 51 percent of men. Men also more frequently take out insurance for funeral costs (28 percent compared to 17 percent for women).

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.