Most of happy Russians are healthy, satisfied with their job and private life.
MOSCOW, May 14, 2012. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how many Russians are happy; whether they are satisfied with their life; and whether they think most of people are happy or not?
The spring measurement of people`s hapiness showed the tendency toward increase: in April this figure has substantially increased (up to 82%). The highest indicator was recorded in March 2008 (77%). The share of unhappy people currently makes up 13% of respondents.
Those who feel happy are mainly young Russians; the share of Russians younger than 35 is 36% among happy Russians and only 20% among unhappy Russians. Respondents who feel happy often have high level of education: the share of respondents with high level of education is 30% among those who are satisfied with their life and only 19% among those who are not. The share of respondents with low self-assessment is 10% among those who are happy and 41% among those who are unhappy. One of the most important aspects is the state of health: the proportion of those who are satisfied with the state of their health is 73% among happy people, whereas the proportion of those who negatively assess their health is 61% among those who feel unhappy. Most of happy people are satisfied with their job (56%). Those who feel unhappy tend to be disappointed with the work they do (46%). Happy people also tend to be satisfied with their sexual life (43%). Sexual life brings happiness to every-fifth Russian in this group (20%). The share of those who say that sexual life brings no emotions is 22% among those who are unhappy and only 12% among those who are happy. As to relationships with friends and relatives, both parties are equally satisfied with that (49% of happy Russians and 53% of unhappy Russians). However such relationships bring more happiness to the former (43% versus 18% among unhappy people).
According to half of Russians, most of people around them are happy (49%, a year ago – only 33%). Those who think so are mainly young Russians (66%) with high level of income (65%), as well as those who consider themselves happy (57%). Twelve percent of respondents oppose them (24% a year ago); most of them are Russians older than 45 (16-17%), with low level of income (26%) and Russians who consider themselves unhappy (36%). One-third of respondents believe that the share of happy people around them is equaled to the share of unhappy people.
As before, being happy basically depends on family wellbeing (32%). Fifteen percent of happy people find joy in children and grandchildren; 13% report that their life is good; the shares of those who are happy because they have the one they love or because their friends and relatives are healthy are 10% (for each group). Nine percent are satisfied with their job; 4% - with opportunities for self-realization; 3% are happy to have friends; 3% are happy because they have good financial income or apartment; 2% are happy because they have parents; the same share of respondents say they are happy because they are young and beautiful. Five percent of Russians are happy to live; other 2% find no reason to be sad.
Poverty is the main reason for being unhappy, however the share of such respondents have slightly decreased (from 22 to 15%). This is followed by diseases and old age (10%). Respondents also mention lack of job (6%), loneliness (5%), poor housing conditions (4%), alarming situation in the country, tiredness, conflicts in the family, lack of opportunities to build a family (2% for each), great number of problems, lack of confidence in the future, price increase (1% for each).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted April 14-15, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
If you consider yourself happy, can you tell us why? (close-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who feel happy) | ||||||||||||
| June 1990 | May 1991 | Febru ary 1992 | Febru ary 1998 | March 2008 | March 2009 | Septem ber 2009 | March 2010 | Septem ber 2010 | April 2011 | Septem ber 2011 | April 2012 |
Definitely yes | 5 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 14 | 19 | 15 | 22 |
Rather yes | 39 | 52 | 40 | 44 | 55 | 50 | 53 | 52 | 56 | 48 | 51 | 60 |
Rather no | 22 | 24 | 31 | 19 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 12 |
Definitely no | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 29 | 12 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 6 |
|
| Feeling happy, % | Feeling unhappy, % |
Are you satisfied with the state of your health, health of your relatives and your family? | Satisfied | 73 | 37 |
Not satisfied | 27 | 61 | |
Hard to tell | 0 | 1 | |
Are you generally satisfied with your current work? | Satisfied | 56 | 24 |
Not satisfied | 22 | 46 | |
Hard to tell | 22 | 30 | |
What do the following aspects of your life bring to you? а) your sexual life | Happiness | 20 | 5 |
Satisfaction | 43 | 25 | |
Dissatisfaction | 3 | 13 | |
Unhappiness, disappointment | 0 | 1 | |
No emotions | 12 | 22 | |
Hard to tell | 21 | 33 | |
What do the following aspects of your life bring to you? b) your relationships with friends, relatives. | Happiness | 43 | 18 |
Satisfaction | 49 | 53 | |
Dissatisfaction | 1 | 12 | |
Unhappiness, disappointment | 0 | 3 | |
No emotions | 3 | 6 | |
Hard to tell | 4 | 8 |
In your opinion, are there more happy or unhappy people among you relatives and friends? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| April 2011 | April 2012 |
More happy people | 33 | 49 |
More unhappy people | 24 | 12 |
Almost equally | 36 | 33 |
Hard to tell | 8 | 6 |
If you consider yourself happy, can you tell us why? (close-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who feel happy) | |||||
| April 2008 | March 2009 | April 2010 | April 2011 | April 2012 |
Family wellbeing (everyone is alive, healthy; we have everything) | 24 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 32 |
Good financial income | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Good interesting job, studies, profession | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Children and grandchildren | 14 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 15 |
Everything is good in my life, I have achieved everything I wanted | 9 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
Things go their way; there are opportunities for self-realization | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
I have the one I love; I love my relatives | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
I am healthy; my relatives are healthy | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
I have friends | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
I am happy to live | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
I have my apartment | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
I am young, beautiful, healthy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
No reasons for being sad | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
I have my parents | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Other | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 32 | 30 | 27 | 21 | 19 |
If you do not consider yourself happy, can you tell us why? (close-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who do not feel happy) | |||||
| April 2008 | March 2009 | April 2010 | April 2011 | April 2012 |
Poverty, no money, low income | 22 | 17 | 17 | 22 | 15 |
Diseases, old age | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
The situation in the country is alarming | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Inflation | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Everything is bad; nothing makes me happy; I feel tired | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Loneliness (wife is dead; I live alone) | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Life is hard; life is passing by | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
Conflicts in the family | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Many problems; nothing works; difficult life circumstances | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
No good job | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
No chance to build a family | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
No confidence in the future | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Poor housing conditions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
People around me have become worse | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
I do not live, I survive | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Other | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Hard to tell | 48 | 64 | 57 | 44 | 56 |
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