Buying a home is, for many Spaniards, one of life's great achievements. However, behind this goal there is a less visible dimension: the impact that mortgage pressure can have on physical and mental health.
The study X-ray of financial and mortgage welfare in Spain, The Dr. Finance, reveals that seven out of ten mortgagors recognise that they feel financial stress related to their home. And although the figure is high at the national level, its intensity varies significantly depending on the autonomous community.
Mortgage stress is also a health problem
In Navarre, 58.9 % of those mortgaged say that they always or frequently feel stress. It is followed by La Rioja (51.7 %) and the Canary Islands (32.2 %).
In the Community of Madrid, 27.2 % reported suffering from it on a regular basis, higher than in Catalonia (21.6 %) or the Community of Valencia (22.1 %).
Beyond the economic data, sustained financial stress is associated with chronically elevated cortisol, sleep disturbances, increased cardiovascular risk, anxiety and mental fatigue. When housing - which should represent security and stability - becomes a constant source of worry, the impact goes beyond the financial and into the nervous system.
Sleeping less well, making impulsive decisions, reducing leisure activities or postponing self-care are some of the indirect consequences that affect overall well-being.
Financial education as a preventive health tool
The study also reveals territorial differences in financial literacy. Just over half of citizens know how to correctly define the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), a key indicator for understanding the real cost of a mortgage.
La Rioja leads in terms of awareness of the concept (76.4 %), followed by the Balearic Islands and Catalonia. At the opposite end of the scale are the Canary Islands, Navarre and Castile-La Mancha.
A poor understanding of mortgage terms increases the feeling of uncertainty. And prolonged uncertainty is one of the biggest generators of psychological stress.
The perception is practically unanimous: more than 88 % of citizens consider that financial education on mortgages is not sufficiently promoted in Spain. In Catalonia this figure exceeds 95 %, and in Andalusia and Madrid it is around 90 %.
Financial well-being = holistic well-being
Health is no longer understood solely as the absence of illness, but as physical, mental and emotional balance. In this context, financial wellbeing is becoming an important pillar of contemporary self-care.
Feeling able to understand a mortgage, anticipate scenarios and plan payments reduces the constant activation of the alert system. It means more peace of mind, better rest and greater ability to make decisions out of calmness rather than fear.
Housing should be a space for regeneration, not a trigger for anxiety. Making financial education a preventive tool is ultimately a public health strategy.
Because when finances are under control, the body and mind feel it too.
