Survey shows Irish growing happier - and more selfish

Irish people are becoming happier but more selfish, a report on attitudes to quality of life has found.

Some 71 per cent of respondents to the Amárach Consulting survey, published yesterday, said they felt their quality of life had improved in the past five years.

Almost four in ten said they had never suffered stress and the same proportion proclaimed to be "very satisfied" with life, double the EU average.

However, the survey of 1,000 people also identified a "shadow side" to the Irish persona. Only a quarter of respondents said they would help a good cause if they had more money (down from 48 per cent in a 1989 survey), while 57 per cent said they would enjoy themselves more (up from 45 per cent).

Similarly, just 26 per cent said they would help a good cause if they had more time (down from 39 per cent in 1989), while half of respondents said they would enjoy themselves more (up from 30 per cent).

Launching the report, psychologist Dr Maureen Gaffney said it showed "personal enjoyment has become the clear first priority" for people.

The survey, commissioned by Guinness UDV Ireland, establishes a measure for quality of life based on four key influences: happiness, family life, health and finances. Labelled the Goodness Index, it suggests people living in urban areas have a lower quality of life than those in rural areas, with people in Dublin ranked lowest of all. It suggests that married people and those on higher incomes have a better quality of life than single people and those on low incomes.

"Having enough money to do the things you want" was ranked by respondents as the most significant influence on quality of life. It was seen as more important than one's health, spending time with family and friends, the traffic situation, the environment, and house prices.

"Here we have a snapshot of Irish society - hard-working, confident, optimistic about the future, perfectly in tune with the demands of the new economy. But there are tensions," said Dr Gaffney.

While in general respondents did not regard religion as an important influence on quality of life, 54 per cent listed going to church as one of the activities undertaken on a weekly or near weekly basis. This compared to 79 per cent who said they spent time with friends and just 38 per cent who attended sports clubs.

The survey suggests fewer people believe in equality of the sexes than before. Just 32 per cent said they thought the two partners in a relationship should split domestic and other work equally People can calculate their own Goodness Index scores at the survey website, www.amarach.com, where the report can be read in full.