UK women have greater sense of well-being than men

Rachel Salmon
WVoN co-editor

Women in the UK are happier and more satisfied with their lives than men, but, according to recent government statistics, they worry more.

Between April and September 2011, respondents to the Annual Population Survey were asked questions about their well-being for the first time.

They were asked to rate satisfaction with their lives, whether they found them worthwhile, their happiness and anxiety levels on a scale of one to ten.

Women scored an average 7.44 overall, against 7.34 for men.

Younger women and older women tended to be happier, found life more worthwhile and were more satisfied than the middle-aged, but levels of well-being started to decline for women over 80.

Women also reported higher levels of anxiety than men.  Female respondents said they had an anxiety level of 3.29, whereas men put theirs at 3.09.

Women aged 50-54 were most anxious, while 16-19-year-olds rated themselves as the most carefree.

What We Do, a recent study of work and leisure activities produced by the Office of National Statistics as part of its National Measuring Well-Being Programme suggested one reason may be because fewer women work long hours.

But women fared less well when it came to participating in sport and fitness activities, widely believed to improve health and well-being.

Only 47 per cent of women had participated in sport and physical activity in the last four months, compared with 61 per cent of men.