2017 Prudential Relationship Index reveals continued high levels of fulfilment in personal relationships across Asia

Dec 11, 2017 15:00 JST

Source: Prudential

- However, more than half of Asians worry about their families' financial security;
- While time spent on digital devices is a major for arguments between couples, the majority of Asians believe tech advancement has improved financial planning

HONG KONG, Dec 11, 2017 - (Media OutReach) - To gain a deeper understanding of personal relationships in the region, Prudential Corporation Asia has launched the Prudential Relationship Index (PRI) for 2017, a year after the inaugural report last year, which reveals core insights including the key attributes of healthy relationships and how they could be disrupted by factors such as money and technology.

The PRI is a study which uncovers the dynamics between partners, children, friends and relatives, and explores the strengths and weaknesses of the primary relationships in our lives. Nine markets were part of the region-wide study this year, including Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The overall average PRI score for 2017 is 71/100, a one-point increase from 2016. This indicates that relationships in Asia meet a significant 71% of people's needs and expectations. People in Cambodia are the most satisfied with their personal relationships, with a PRI score of 86/100, followed by Vietnam and the Philippines in joint second (79/100).

Mr. Anthony Shaw, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, Insurance, at Prudential Corporation Asia said, "The second edition of the Prudential Relationship Index offers new insights into relationships in Asia. Prudential recognises that healthy relationships influence an individual's happiness and wellbeing. For over 90 years, Prudential has helped our customers protect their valued relationships with products that cater to their needs at different life stages."

On the PRI 2017 he said, "The level of relationship satisfaction remains at a high level this year across Asia. Money continues to be the leading source of tension for couples in Asia and the findings reveal that greater transparency regarding financial affairs benefits relationships. Whilst the advancement of technology has made financial planning easier, attentiveness to their partner is the major source of arguments for one-third of couples in the region."

What is the key to relationship success in Asia?
In Asia, people most desire a partner who is "easy to get along with", by which they mean someone who allows them to relax and is fun to be around. Given the pressures of daily life, they are likely to seek a companion who makes them laugh and enjoy doing things together.

Loyalty and honesty are also highly desired traits across all the markets surveyed. The ideal partner would be a person who respects their individuality and is honest with them.

What major concerns do people in Asia face?
According to the PRI, most people in Asia bear the responsibility of financially supporting their loved ones. More than half of adults surveyed (53%) say they currently cover their parents' daily expenses. However, a significantly smaller proportion of them do not expect to receive the same financial support in return. Only a third of Asians (32%) expect their children to support them financially in their old age.

The majority of Asians plan to rely on their own personal savings and assets in their senior years (83%). In fact, saving for future retirement is the highest-ranked goal (50%) in the region, followed closely by travelling with family (47%).

How does money impact relationships?
While drinking and smoking is a big cause for concern for couples in certain markets, findings show that more than a third of couples in Asia argue about money (37%) - the most common cause for argument in the region.

However, the PRI 2017 reveals that couples who pool all their financial resources together have a better relationship (with a PRI score of 74/100) than those who keep their finances separate (PRI score of 58/100).

Additionally, the majority of couples in Asia (56%) say that working with a financial agent to plan their finances helps improve relationships. People in emerging markets like Cambodia (70%) and Thailand (69%) are more likely to agree with the benefits of professional financial help than those in developed markets like Hong Kong (28%).

How does technology affect people's lives?
The PRI 2017 also explores the effects of technology on people's lives. More than three-quarters of people in the region (79%) say technology growth has made financial planning easier and better. In Cambodia, almost all the people surveyed (90%) agree that their financial planning has improved as a result of advancement in technology.

Despite its positive impact on quality of life, people are conscious of the effects of technology on relationships. Findings show that time spent on digital devices is the fourth-leading cause for argument between couples in Asia (29%), most prominently affecting relationships in the Philippines (37%) and Thailand (36%).

Overall, the majority of people in the region are optimistic about the state of their relationships and personal finances, with expectations for improvement in their love life (56%) and personal finances (67%) over the next few years.

Anthony concluded, "In line with our business credo of 'Always Listening, Always Understanding', the PRI provides another tool for Prudential to stay in touch with the needs of our customers and ensure we are able to help them protect their most valued relationships."

Visit: Prudential Relationship Index Microsite https://www.prudentialrelationshipindex.com/
Highlights: Prudential Relationship Index Highlights https://www.prudentialrelationshipindex.com/relationship-index
Download and read: The Prudential Relationship Index Report
https://www.prudentialrelationshipindex.com/relationship-index-download

About the 2017 Prudential Relationship Index

The Prudential Relationship Index was developed to understand the state of personal relationships in Asia. Given the vital importance of relationships to people's happiness, well-being, and longevity, the study offers deep understanding and insight into relationships - how to make them stronger, better, and more rewarding. More than 4,600 interviews were conducted in 9 countries and territories in Asia. These included Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Interviews were conducted between 26 June and 20 July 2017 with adults between 25 and 55 years of age.

About Prudential Corporation Asia

Prudential Corporation Asia, based in Hong Kong, oversees the company's life insurance and asset management operations spanning 14 Asian markets. For more than 90 years, Prudential has been providing financial security to Asian customers and communities. Today, Prudential has over 15 million customers in Asia, and a leading asset management business under Eastspring Investments.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Prudential Corporation Asia
Ee Ching TAN
(852) 2918 6396
ee.ching.tan@prudential.com.hk

Kitty LIU
(852) 2918 2780
kitty.yk.liu@prudential.com.hk

Ruder Finn Asia
Jacqueline Huang
(852) 2201 6461
huangj@ruderfinnasia.com

Tini Hui
(852) 2521 0800
huit@ruderfinnasia.com

Source: Prudential