81% of Pinoys satisfied with lives
MANILA, Philippines – Most Filipinos are satisfied with their lives, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed. The SWS poll, conducted from Dec. 8 to 11 last year, found about four of five Filipinos or 81 percent saying they were satisfied with their lives. Of the 81 percent, 33 percent were “very satisfied” and 48 percent “fairly satisfied.” Results of the Fourth Quarter 2012 Social Weather Survey on Life Satisfaction were published in the newspaper BusinessWorld yesterday. It used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide. Satisfaction with life improved from March 2012’s 76 percent (31 percent “very satisfied” and 45 percent “fairly satisfied”). Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 On the other hand, 14 percent said they were “not very satisfied” with their lives, while five percent were “not at all satisfied.” However, this was lower than the March 2012 dissatisfaction rate – 18 percent “not very satisfied,” five percent “not at all satisfied,” according to the SWS, which has surveyed Filipinos’ satisfaction with life 19 times. SWS said life satisfaction was above 80 percent in four out of six surveys since September 2010. It was only in November 2010 and March 2012 that it was at 76 percent. Satisfaction rate hit a record-high 86 percent in December 2011, while the lowest level of 61 percent was recorded in September 2002 and November 2003. SWS said satisfaction with life was highest among respondents in class ABC and those who graduated from college, with 95 percent and 88 percent, respectively. It was at 82 percent among class D respondents and 74 percent among those of class E. Life satisfaction was 76 percent for both elementary school and non-elementary school graduates. It said satisfaction was almost the same for both men and women: 81 percent among men, and 80 percent among women. It was highest among respondents in the age bracket 25-34 (85 percent) and among those married (82 percent). Life satisfaction was lowest among those 35-44 years old (76 percent) and among those without a spouse or partner (77 percent). Satisfaction with life was high in all geographical areas except in Mindanao: 81 percent in Metro Manila, 84 percent in balance Luzon and 82 percent in the Visayas. It was 72 percent in Mindanao. Life satisfaction was 84 percent in urban areas and 77 percent in rural areas. The survey research institution noted that those satisfied with life were also optimistic that their lives and the general economy will improve this year. The same survey showed that 45 percent of those very satisfied expect quality of life to improve in the next 12 months.