A happy family, a decent job and income: Chinese women consider these the three most important factors for a good life, according to a survey conducted last year by the Huakun Women's Life Investigation Center and Chinese Women magazine. One thousand and two women in eight Chinese cities were interviewed about their views on work and personal life, psychological and physical health, and above all, their sense of happiness.

The women who participated in the study came from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, Changsha in Hunan Province, Chengdu in Sichuan Province, Nanning in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Harbin in Heilongjiang and Xi'an in Shaanxi.

Seventy-nine percent were professional women aged between 20 and 50, and 13.9 percent were aged between 51 and 60 and 7.1 percent between 61 and 70.

Although engaged in different professions as civil servants, managerial personnel, teachers, media people, doctors and nurses, IT workers, or in commercial and community service industries, all invariably believed that a happy family, a decent job and income are the top three essential elements for a good life.

They also hoped their children would be happy and healthy, and with a bright future. Enjoying life was another important goal.

While talking about happiness, both married and single women put a happy family or a happy marriage on top of their list.

The survey showed that those married for the first time were the happiest, followed by the singletons who enjoyed bachelorhood, but were always on the lookout for the right partner. Women who had remarried ranked third. Divorcees and widows said they were the least happy.

Happiness within marriage varied across age. Women between 31 and 40 were most satisfied with their marriage, up to 48.6 percent, higher than those below 30 and above 50. Interestingly, women between 61 and 70 were also quite pleased with their marriages (45.8 percent).

The survey also revealed that it is easier for well-educated women to appreciate their partners. Some 89.5 percent shared the same interests as their husbands. They would rather trust their other half than parents and friends (46.5 percent).

Work life

Many women believed a good job enabled them to prove their abilities. Around 96 percent of the professional women were positive about their jobs, with women in media enjoying a strong sense of achievement. Teachers came second, followed by doctors and nurses. Those working in the service industry said they were bored with their jobs.

However, the women interviewed also talked about pressure and depression due to work. Those aged between 31 and 40 suffered the most. So did the well-educated. The higher the education, the greater the pressure.

Though those in media reported the strongest sense of achievement, they were also under the greatest pressure, working 10.65 hours a day on an average. Doctors and nurses, teachers and people in banking and insurance also suffered from work related stress.

Pressure at work also led to depression. Fortunately, it was not that often. Some 78 percent said they occasionally had such problems. Only 8.2 percent said that it was a serious issue.

Some who were depressed complained life was "flat." Some were disappointed at not achieving work and life ideals.

The survey showed that elderly women, about 12.8 percent of those above the age of 60, were more prone to depression than those aged between 51-60, at only 2.3 percent. Unlike those 10 years younger, who had time, energy and money to enjoy themselves, the above-60-year-olds seemed to have lost interest in life, indicating that psychological problems are quite serious among the ageing in China.

Younger women seemed to have more time to do what they love to do. Having minimized household chores, 74.1 percent of them surfed the net regularly for information. Reading was also a favorite pastime.

In the last three months of the previous year, 50.9 percent took part in various training courses to cope with increasing competition at work.

Most women interviewed loved to travel. Around 81 percent spent an average of 1,222.4 yuan on traveling. As destinations, they chose places rich in natural scenery.

Safe housing, free from pollution and crime, was also important.

Most urban women were not satisfied with their living environment, complaining primarily about limited space. Beijing and Xi'an had the least satisfied women.

Women also played a key role in family consumption, and 77.3 percent were decision-makers for both daily expenses and big plans like buying an apartment or a car. Most young women spent more than they earned.

Meanwhile, a large majority of them were positive about the future and 69.1 percent believed life would continue to get better.

"The survey shows that most urban women are satisfied with their lives," said Deng Xiaolan, director of Huakun Women's Life Investigation Centre at the press conference on Tuesday.

"The investigation will be held once a year, and will sooner or later expand to the rural areas," she added.

(China Daily March 2, 2006)