Happiness, satisfaction lowest in 4 years – SWS

MANILA, Philippines — Happiness and satisfaction with life have fallen to their lowest levels in four years, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The poll, conducted from Dec. 16 to 19 last year, found 87 percent saying they are “very/fairly happy” with their life in general. This was seven points below the record-high 94 percent recorded in December 2017 and the lowest since the 85 percent registered in December 2014.

Those who are “unhappy” with their life hit 13 percent in the last quarter of 2018, the highest since the 15 percent in December 2014, the SWS said.

Meanwhile, the proportion of Filipinos who are “very/fairly satisfied” with their lives also dropped to 82 percent in December 2018 from the record-high 92 percent in December 2017. This was also the lowest in over four years, since the 79 percent in September 2014.

Dissatisfaction with life at 18 percent in December 2018, also the highest since the 21 percent in September 2014.

The nationwide survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults, 18 years old and above.

Happiness with life declined in all areas and across all socioeconomic classes, according to the SWS.

In Mindanao, it fell to 89 percent in December 2018 from 96 percent in December 2017.

It also fell in the Visayas from 94 percent to 89 percent.

Happiness with life was at 86 percent in balance Luzon, down from 95 percent previously.

In Metro Manila, it dropped to 82 percent, down from 90 percent previously.

Unhappiness, on the other hand, was highest in Metro Manila at 17 percent, up from 10 percent in December 2017. It was followed by balance Luzon at 14 percent (up from five percent), Visayas at 11 percent (up from six percent), and Mindanao at 11 percent (up from four percent).

Happiness with life fell to 91 percent among class ABC in December 2018 from 93 percent in December 2017.

It also dropped among class D, or the masa, to 88 percent (from 95 percent), and class E, at 79 percent (from 90 percent).

Unhappiness was highest in class E, at 21 percent, (up from 10 percent in December 2017), followed by class D, at 12 percent (from five percent), and class ABC, at nine percent (from seven percent).

Meanwhile, satisfaction with life also declined in all areas and classes.

It dropped from 93 percent to 81 percent in Metro Manila, followed by balance Luzon from 94 percent to 83 percent; and in Mindanao from 91 percent to 80 percent.

In the Visayas, it fell from 89 percent to 83 percent.

Dissatisfaction with life, on the other hand, was highest in Mindanao, at 20 percent (up from nine percent in December 2017), followed by Metro Manila, at 19 percent (from seven percent), the Visayas, at 17 percent (from 11 percent), and balance Luzon, at 17 percent (from six percent).

By class, satisfaction with life dropped to 75 percent among class E from 89 percent; followed by class D at 83 percent from 93 percent.

Dissatisfaction with life was highest in class E, at 25 percent (from 11 percent in December 2017), followed by class D, at 17 percent (from seven percent), and class ABC, which stayed at eight percent.