INTRODUCTION
Objective and motivation
According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO) in 2015, the divorce and separation rates among women were notably higher than those of men Specifically, the divorce rate for women was approximately 2.2%, compared to just 1.1% for men Additionally, the separation rate for women stood at 0.6%, while the rate for men was lower at 0.4%.
The rising trend of women seeking divorce or a separate life can be attributed to their increasing financial independence The percentage of skilled female workers has grown from 12.3% in 2007 to 19.3% in 2015, while the female unemployment rate remained low at approximately 2.26% in 2015 Additionally, the monthly average income per capita has significantly increased from 1,639,500 dong in 2005 to 5,695,300 dong in 2015 This financial empowerment allows women to make their own financial decisions, contributing to their desire for autonomy in relationships.
Recent data reveals a notable increase in the singulate mean age at first marriage (SMAM) among Vietnamese families According to the General Statistics Office (GSO) report from 2015, the SMAM rose from 23.8 years in 1999 to 24.9 years in 2015 Furthermore, the SMAM for males was consistently higher, showing an increase of 1.2 to 4.1 years compared to previous years.
1 GSO (2015) – Major findings: The 1/4/2015 time-point population change and family planning survey, table 2.1, page 34
2 GSO, 02.Popolation and Employment >> Percentage of trained employed workers by sex and by residence 2007 female
3 GSO, 02.Popolation and Employment >> Percentage of trained employed workers by sex and by residence 2015 female
4 GSO, 02.Popolation and Employment >>Unemployment and unemployment rate of labour force at working age in 2015 by region and by sex
5 GSO, 02.Popolation and Employment >>Average income of employed workers in State sector by kind of economic activity >>2005
6 GSO, 02.Popolation and Employment >>Average income of employed workers in State sector by kind of economic activity >>2010
7 GSO, 02.Popolation and Employment >>Average income of employed workers in State sector by kind of economic activity >>2015
The 2015 GSO report highlights significant demographic changes, noting that men are increasingly postponing marriage, with the singulate mean age at marriage (SMAM) rising from 24.4 years in 1989 to 26.9 years in 2015 This trend reflects evolving societal norms and family planning dynamics over the years.
Vietnamese women are increasingly embracing financial independence and redefining their personal values and life satisfaction They are challenging traditional norms by actively participating in activities once considered uncommon or stigmatized, such as socializing at beer clubs, pubs, and bars, traveling alone, and even getting tattoos This shift reflects a broader trend of self-exploration and empowerment among women in Vietnam.
Women actively connect with friends through social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and Instagram, allowing them to easily schedule appointments or dates in under a minute They approach life with positive energy and a supportive mindset, which not only enhances their own happiness but also uplifts those around them By openly sharing their challenges and pressures, they foster deeper emotional connections and empathy within their social circles.
According to a Reuters article by McCool (2007), Vietnam is experiencing a notable sexual revolution, particularly among single women, with Saigon as a prime example This shift towards open-mindedness has led couples to embrace cohabitation and premarital sex more freely than previous generations Additionally, online social networking has empowered women to openly discuss love, sex, and sexual orientation without hesitation.
Many women grapple with the question of whether true satisfaction in life comes from marriage or if happiness is found through personal fulfillment This pursuit of happiness often presents significant challenges, as they seek to understand what genuine happiness entails Some may focus on seeking physical and emotional pleasures while striving to minimize pain in their lives.
Research shows that women often find their greatest happiness when they are in a loving partnership with the right man, highlighting the importance of a harmonious marriage in achieving lasting joy Marital happiness is increasingly viewed as a significant personal achievement, often surpassing professional success However, recent trends indicate a decline in marriage rates among men and a rising divorce rate among women, raising questions about the true value of marriage in contemporary society This leads us to ponder whether the pursuit of lasting happiness through marriage remains a valid aspiration for many.
We aim to tackle the significant challenges surrounding marriage, as these issues profoundly influence decisions related to it By addressing the beliefs, opportunities, assumptions, perceptions, and fears associated with marriage, we hope to inspire young men and women to reevaluate their views on this institution Our goal is to promote lasting happiness and encourage individuals to understand their roles and responsibilities in shaping a better future for society.
This research aims to determine whether married women experience greater happiness compared to single individuals over their lifetimes It will explore practical methods for measuring happiness and examine the impact of marriage on overall well-being in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
We conducted over 500 surveys of women aged 18-65 living in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to investigate the impact of marriage on happiness using regression techniques Our findings provide valuable insights into this ongoing discussion and highlight the importance of marriage in contributing to overall well-being Should this research yield significant achievements, we plan to expand our study to include women across Vietnam Ultimately, our results aim to offer actionable solutions for policymakers.
Organization of the thesis
This thesis is structured into five key sections It begins by outlining the research objective and motivation, specifically addressing the question of whether married women experience greater happiness than single individuals over their lifetimes The second section delves into the theoretical frameworks and empirical studies that assess happiness, particularly in relation to marriage and its effects The third part presents a summary of statistics and findings, while the final section highlights significant results leading to a comprehensive conclusion and its implications.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Happiness
The question was raised how to measure individual happiness which will be taken up and a sketch of the relationship between the affirmation of individuality and happiness
The book was named “Freedom and the Pursuit of Happiness” by Bavetta et al
In 2014, researchers explored the theoretical foundations of happiness within the field of economics, highlighting that happiness can be quantified through individual utility They distinguished between two interpretations: experience utilities and decision utilities Additionally, the terms "subjective well-being" and "happiness" are often used interchangeably in discussions about personal satisfaction.
Individual utility is fundamentally subjective, characterized by the flow of pleasure and pain Experience utilities are assessed in terms of pleasant or unpleasant sensations that contribute to overall well-being Decision utilities reflect satisfaction derived from making consumption choices confidently In economics, the relationship between utilities and well-being can be expressed by the equation Ut = ∫ 𝑡=0 1 𝑢(𝑐𝑡)𝑑𝑡, where u represents utility, c denotes consumption, U signifies total utility, and t indicates time This function illustrates that total utility is the cumulative sum of utility gained from consumption over a specified period.
Researchers have highlighted the distinction between life satisfaction and happiness, noting that life satisfaction is significantly influenced by socioeconomic status, whereas happiness is more closely tied to individual experiences and circumstances.
Over the past thirty years, the authors have analyzed a large sample across various situations and countries to yield valuable insights They engage in discussions regarding the reliability and validity of the data used in their empirical models The measurement of experience utility is based on individual well-being, derived from self-reported valuations For their analysis, they utilized data from the World Value Survey (WVS) conducted in 2009.
To effectively capture the dual aspects of life well-being, economists developed a variable known as subjective well-being (SWB) This variable is derived from responses gathered through interviews or surveys that assess individuals' happiness and life satisfaction, with the final measure calculated by weighting each component accordingly.
Economists often assess overall life satisfaction by asking individuals to rate their happiness on a scale, typically ranging from low to high This common approach seeks to gauge how content people feel about their lives in general at present.
=1 to high = 4, corresponding with very happy, rather happy, not very happy, and not at all happy, respectively This scale demonstrated how happy the people enjoy
On the other hand, whereas, life satisfaction is measured by the question
“Thinking of your life as a whole, would you consider how satisfied they are” with the range from 1 with “not at all satisfied” to 10 with very satisfied
Individuals assess their happiness and life satisfaction based on personal experiences, ranging from low to high levels A greater sense of satisfaction often leads to enhanced benefits and improved quality of life However, it's important to note that the measurement of happiness can be complex, as higher levels of satisfaction may paradoxically correlate with lower perceived happiness Furthermore, the connections between happiness, subjective well-being, and life satisfaction are significantly intertwined.
Bronson and Merryman (2009) highlight that psychologists and neuroscientists have identified the hippocampus as the key area of the human brain associated with positive memories, emotions, and happiness This region plays a crucial role in forming new experiences and is essential for training, nurturing, and enhancing mood and overall well-being.
Serotonin, a neurotransmitter derived from the amino acid tryptophan, plays a crucial role in regulating mood, learning, sleep, impulsivity, sexuality, and appetite Meanwhile, dopamine, another important neurotransmitter, is synthesized from tyrosine found in foods such as poultry, fish, milk, and bananas, and is essential for managing the brain's reward and pleasure centers, as well as influencing movements and emotional responses.
According to Achor and Shawn (2011), spending at least 20 minutes outdoors in good weather can significantly enhance mood, expand thinking, and improve working memory Engaging in exercise releases proteins and endorphins, contributing to a happier brain Additionally, they noted that married individuals report higher levels of happiness, with 10% more satisfaction compared to their unmarried counterparts.
The happiest professions include clergymen, actors, architects, and firefighters Notably, the highest levels of job satisfaction are found in Mexico and Puerto Rico, while Nigeria and Mexico lead in optimism Globally, the happiest people reside in Iceland (94%), followed closely by Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden (all at 91%), and Australia (90%), with the United States also ranking favorably.
Ranked as the 16th happiest country in the world, happiness thrives at an optimal temperature of 13.9°C (57°F) Notably, children in Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Germany, and America experience the highest levels of happiness, largely due to their strong connections with friends and family.
Research indicates that healthy individuals experience 20% more happiness than the average person, while parenthood tends to decrease happiness by approximately 0.24% Key contributors to global happiness include a strong sense of community and regular participation in community celebrations Notably, 31% of individuals who attend services monthly, 43% who attend weekly church services, and 26% who never attend church highlight the varying impacts of social engagement on overall well-being.
Grimm et al (2007) suggest that individuals should dedicate at least 2 hours a week, totaling around 100 hours annually, to actively support their community Furthermore, according to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, key components for achieving happiness include a sense of Life Purpose, Respect, Relationships, and Basic Biological Needs Notably, income levels exceeding $20,000 per capita result in only a slight increase in happiness, with those in the highest income bracket reporting approximately 3.5% greater happiness than the average individual.
A study by ABC News highlights that only 9% of patients with depression utilize exercise as a treatment option, while 38% rely solely on medication, and 31% combine both medication and exercise Additionally, the study reveals that sleep-deprived individuals struggle to recall positive thoughts, making it easier for them to remember negative ones.
Marriage
In 1974, Becker introduced the concept of marital benefits, highlighting the advantages of shared time, resources, and household production compared to single life He emphasized the positive matching of partners based on factors such as IQ, education, attractiveness, height, race, skin color, religion, and family background Becker also assessed the output of household production and the division of labor between spouses Additionally, he explored the reasons behind delays in marriage, the concept of trial marriages, and the occurrence of divorce.
Men and women choose to marry only when they believe it will enhance their overall utility Utility encompasses not just the goods and services acquired, but also the contributions made by each household member Key factors contributing to this utility include the quality of meals, meaningful conversations, the number of children, mutual respect, relaxation, entertainment, love, empathy, partnership, and health.
To optimize the utilities of each household member, families aim to maximize their received benefits The production function can be expressed as Z = f(x1,…xm; t1 tk; E), where xi represents various goods and services, tj denotes the time contributions of each member, and E signifies environmental factors Economists analyze the advantages of marriage by considering both the balanced costs, such as legal and emotional expenses, and the beneficial inputs, which include time and market goods Additionally, factors like beauty, education, intelligence, and other market opportunities play a significant role in these dynamics.
Married households are distinguished from single households primarily by the presence of children, as individuals cannot purchase their own offspring Both men and women typically desire to have and care for their children, with love arising from the physical and emotional bonds they share Children and love serve as imperfect substitutes, as one party alone cannot create them The author emphasizes that the benefits of marriage stem from the complementarity between men and women, illustrated through a Cobb-Douglas framework He further asserts that the traditional union of one man and one woman is the most efficient arrangement, as it allows for the procreation of children and the maximization of shared utilities.
Love and care play a crucial role in fostering meaningful relationships, ultimately leading to lifelong partnerships and marriage These emotions not only enhance personal connections but also contribute positively to community well-being and overall economic growth.
When selecting a partner, various factors come into play, including race, religion, age, family background, education, annual income, and personal traits such as height, weight, and temperament Ultimately, individuals aim to maximize their utility by focusing on the inputs and outputs of household commodities.
Finding the right partner involves assessing various factors, including education, intelligence, income, family background, lifestyle, ambition, and stress management, all of which contribute to what is termed the "love cost." The duration of this search is influenced by individual expectations and values, with marriage often resulting from a fortunate alignment of circumstances Additionally, collecting and analyzing data about potential partners can enhance the likelihood of finding a suitable match, as the ideal partner emerges when comprehensive information is available Ultimately, couples must navigate important decisions regarding their marital status, including whether to divorce, separate, or remarry.
In many countries, particularly Vietnam, marriage is viewed as an essential obligation for children to fulfill towards their parents and society, rather than a true expression of love between couples This perception emphasizes the importance of social expectations over genuine emotional connections, leading to a significant correlation between marital quality and stability with marital satisfaction.
Marital goals significantly influence daily activities and overall well-being, with social relationship goals being particularly important According to the theory of marital satisfaction, researchers define "marital satisfaction" as an individual's overall subjective assessment of their marriage quality.
Economists emphasize the importance of marriage quality over stability, suggesting that low-quality marriages are a primary cause of divorce, as supported by statistical analysis Contrary to this perspective, they advocate for tolerating challenges within marriages, which can ultimately lead to higher quality relationships.
Rusbult et al (1998) emphasized that relationship satisfaction, quality, and commitment are significantly influenced by the level of investment in the relationship, which plays a crucial role in achieving marital stability (Le and Agnew).
2003) Contemporary, Stanley and Markman (1992) declared the difference of two concepts of constraint commitment and dedication commitment
The current review examined marital satisfaction through individuals' overall evaluations rather than specific marital domains This approach highlights marital quality as assessed by people's global perceptions, which is a commonly used indicator in research.
2.2.1 Empirical studies of marital and happiness
Marriage and remarriage are characterized by long-term commitments that foster mutually beneficial exchanges, including love, gratitude, recognition, and financial security Research in psychology, epidemiology, and sociology has shown that married individuals often experience improved physical and psychological health compared to singles, with studies by Burman and Margolin (1992) and Ross (1990) indicating lower rates of substance abuse and depression among married couples Additionally, Waite and Gallagher (2000) highlighted various advantages of marriage, such as increased income, better children's achievements, enhanced sexual satisfaction, and lower mortality rates.
Glenn (1975) analyzed U.S national surveys from 1972-1974, revealing that married individuals reported higher levels of happiness compared to unmarried, widowed, separated, or divorced individuals, with married women generally experiencing greater happiness than married men Additionally, the author disputed claims that husbands derive more benefits from marriage than their wives.
The National Opinion Research Center (NORC) conducted surveys to assess global happiness by asking respondents to rate their overall well-being on a scale of "very happy," "pretty happy," or "not too happy." Additionally, the surveys included a specific question regarding marital satisfaction, prompting participants to describe their marriage using the same three levels of happiness.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Determine sample size
Smith (2013) introduced the way to determine sample size basing on confidence interval, confidence level, and standard of deviation and population size
The margin of error in our data is 5%, with a confidence level of 95% A standard deviation of 50% is used to determine the necessary sample size for achieving the desired level of accuracy.
We need 384 samples but finally we get 397 which are fine to continue.
Data collection
We conducted 501 surveys of woman at aged 18-65 who living in HCMC, in which
57 samples from Google docs, 340 paper surveys, and 101 dis-function samples
Our questionnaire is structured into three sections The first section gathers general demographic information, including gender, age, geography, education, employment status, occupation, social position, income, religion, health, and marital status The second section targets married individuals, exploring topics such as frequency of sexual activity, extramarital relationships, pre-marriage attitudes, and comparisons of current marital happiness with perceived happiness before and after marriage, as well as expectations versus reality It also examines life satisfaction changes during the first two years of marriage, the number of children, and the division of daily activities between spouses on weekdays and weekends The final section focuses on the husband, collecting data on age, education, employment status, occupation, social position, income, and health.
Google Docs: friends from Facebook, VNP-22, colleagues from BHDStar Cineplex Co.ltd 57
Small traders at Ben Thanh Market, along Le Loi Street 27
Women at Ton That Thuyet area, District 4, HCMC 73
SatraFood at Le Loi street 9
Women from Apartment 110 Le Loi, Dist 1 18
Women Union Dist Binh Thanh, Ba Chieu Market 38
Sales Staff at Lotte Supermaket, Dist 7 29
Colleagues from BHDStar Cineplex Co.ltd 11
Ms Pepper’s Class (Phan Thi Huyen Tran) 38
Elder sister from Unicare Co Ltd., and Viettes 45
Happiness is often measured by an individual's overall satisfaction with their quality of life Two key questions assess this sentiment: the first asks respondents to rate their overall happiness on a scale from 1 (least happy) to 10 (most happy), while the second inquires about their current life satisfaction, also using a scale from 1 (absolutely unsatisfied) to 10 (completely satisfied).
A procedure is established to assess the impact of marital quality on overall happiness The quality of marriage is evaluated through the question, "Taking all things into account, how would you describe your marriage?" This inquiry aims to gauge the subjective perception of marital satisfaction, contributing to a deeper understanding of its relationship with personal happiness.
In a recent survey, participants expressed their marital satisfaction on a scale of happiness, with options ranging from "very happy" to "not too happy." Additionally, respondents were asked to compare their marriages to others they know, indicating whether they believe their relationship is better, about the same, or not as good as most This data provides valuable insights into perceptions of marital quality and satisfaction among couples.
Detailed questionnaire updated in appendix.
Econometric models
Our regression examines a relationship between happiness and the regressors, the estimation can be written by basic and full model:
Ordered Probit regression allows us to assess the significance of the coefficient a1 If a1 equals zero, it indicates no difference in happiness between married and unmarried women Conversely, if marital status is defined as a binary variable (1 for married and 0 for unmarried), then a positive a1 suggests that married women experience greater happiness, while a negative a1 implies that unmarried women are happier.
RESEARCH RESULTS
The summary statistics
30 independent variables are assembled into 3 groups of general information, married women and some questions are only husband
The study comprises 397 female participants from Ho Chi Minh City, with an average age of 30.43 years, ranging from a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 65 years As detailed in Table 2.1, educational attainment among the participants is categorized into four levels: 89 individuals (22.42%) have completed junior middle school or below, 79 (19.90%) have attended vocational school, 102 (25.69%) hold a junior college degree, and 127 (31.99%) possess a bachelor's or higher degree.
In a recent survey, 54.91% of respondents reported having full-time jobs, totaling 218 individuals, while 45.09%, or 179 individuals, were engaged in part-time employment The data reveals various occupational categories: 18.38% (69 people) are unemployed or involved in farming, 25.45% (105 people) are small traders, and 32.49% (129 people) work as private office employees Additionally, 6.8% (27 people) are state employees, and 16.88% (67 people) hold positions in management across different sectors, including private and state middle management, senior management with foreign elements, and business ownership.
The majority of individuals in the study belong to the middle and lower social classes, comprising 91.69% with 364 people, while only 8.31% or 33 individuals are from the top and upper levels The most common monthly income level is VND 7.5 million, representing 30.23% of the group with 120 people, followed by VND 12.5 million at 21.66% with 86 individuals Other income brackets include VND 17.5 million with 14.11% (56 people), VND 2.5 million at 12.34% (49 people), and VND 22.5 million at 5.54% (22 people) Additionally, 6.55% (26 people) earn VND 27.5 million, 1.51% (6 people) earn VND 32.5 million, 3.27% (13 people) earn VND 37.5 million, and 4.79% (19 people) earn VND 40 million and above.
A recent survey examined the frequency of attendance at religious sites, revealing that 196 participants (49.33%) visit church, pagoda, or temple often, while 131 (33%) do so seldom, and 70 (17.63%) never attend In terms of health, 179 individuals (45.09%) reported being in good health, 80 (20.15%) indicated an average health level, and 86 (21.66%) claimed to have very good health Conversely, 36 participants (9.07%) reported experiencing very poor or poor health.
In this analysis, we discovered that 216 individuals (54.41%) are single, while only 99 (24.69%) are married Furthermore, there are 57 women (14.36%) who are not living with a partner due to divorce, separation, or widowhood Additionally, 25 individuals (6.3%) are cohabiting with their boyfriends without formal marriage.
Table 2.1: Descriptive statistics by independent variables - general
Junior middle school and below 89 22.42
Private middle level management; State- level middle management; Middle managers with foreign elements; Private Sector Senior; Management; Senior state management; Senior management with foreign elements; Business owner
Frequency of going to church/pagoda/temple
Not living with any man 57 14.36
We have 99 married women (24.94%) and who is not married 299 people (75.06%) Below table 2.2 (Descriptive statistics by independent variables – who is married) describes variables only intend for married women
Sexual frequency plays a crucial role in marital satisfaction, with 6.8% of couples engaging in intimacy once or twice a year or monthly In contrast, 14.11% report sexual activity 2-3 times per month or weekly Additionally, 4.03% of couples have sexual encounters 2-3 times per week or four times a week When it comes to extramarital sex, only 14 individuals expressed willingness to engage, while 85 firmly declined.
A positive attitude towards marriage significantly enhances the sense of happiness for individuals who genuinely desire to marry, while those who are reluctant may experience negative feelings associated with pre-marital expectations Conversely, a minority believe that marrying the wrong person is preferable to remaining single, suggesting that, in general, married individuals tend to be happier than their unmarried counterparts.
Compared happiness of current marriage with before and after marriage, 44 people (11.08%) raise very good, 47 people (11.84%) with poor level and 8 people (2.02%) think very poor
When asking about current marriage confront expectation pre-marriage, 38 people (9.57%) among of them are very well and 47 people (11.84%) at poor level, the rest of them is very poor, 8 people (2.02%)
The study examines life satisfaction in marriage, revealing that in the first year, 40 individuals (10.08%) reported very well, 48 (12.09%) indicated poor, and 11 (2.77%) expressed very poor satisfaction In contrast, by the second year and beyond, satisfaction levels shifted, with 37 people (9.32%) rating their experience as very well, 51 (12.85%) as poor, and 11 (2.77%) as very poor, highlighting the evolution of marital satisfaction over time.
The average number of children per family is 1.786, with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 8, as shown in Table 2.4 (Descriptive Statistics by Continuous Variables) Among the families studied, there are 38 children aged 6 to 12 years, while 8 families (2.92%) have children aged 12 to 17 years.
A comparison of daily activities between husbands and wives on weekdays and weekends reveals varying satisfaction levels among 45 individuals (11.34%) reporting very well, 49 (12.34%) indicating poor, and 5 (1.26%) expressing very poor experiences When assessing the dynamics of working with a husband versus independently or with others, the findings show that 42 participants (10.58%) rated their experiences as very well, while 50 (12.59%) reported poor, and 7 (1.76%) indicated very poor Additionally, our survey aims to highlight the differences in household responsibilities and tasks performed outside the home.
39 people (9.82%) of very well, 52 people (13.10%) of poor and 7 people (1.76%) of very poor
In our study, we assessed the activities couples engaged in over a 30-day period, categorizing their interactions into five distinct groups: 24 individuals (6.05%) reported eating together, 14 individuals (3.53%) went shopping together, 16 individuals (4.03%) watched TV together, 25 individuals (6.3%) traveled together, and 19 individuals (10.83%) participated in other activities Additionally, we quantified the total number of activities each couple engaged in, assigning one point for each activity The results revealed that 25 individuals (6.79%) participated in 1 activity, 2 individuals (0.54%) in 2 activities, 3 individuals (0.82%) in 3 activities, 3 individuals (0.82%) in 4 activities, 12 individuals (3.26%) in 5 activities, 7 individuals (1.9%) in 6 activities, and 2 individuals in 7 activities.
7 (0.54%), 3 people (0.82%) of total 8, 6 people (1.63%) of total 9, 3 people (0.82%) of total 10, 1 people (0.27%) of total 11, 1 people (0.27%) of total 13, 1 people (0.27%) of total 14, 2 people (0.54%) of total 15, 2 people (0.54%) of total 16
Marital duration has mean 8.64, at least 0 year and at most 40 years, mentioned in table 2.4 (Descriptive statistics by continuous variables)
Table 2.2: Descriptive statistics by independent variables – who is married
Once or twice a year/ Once a month 27 6.80
2-3 times per week/> 4 times per week 16 4.03 Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Pre-marriage attitude for people who get married
A positive perspective on marriage enhances happiness for married individuals, whereas it may lead to feelings of discontent for those who are single.
Because married people are expected to endorse pro-marriage attitudes more than the unmarried
Married people are generally happier than unmarried people” and “it is better to have a bad marriage than no marriage at all”
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Happiness of current marriage compared with perceived happiness of before
Very poor 8 2.02 and after marriage Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Happiness of current marriage compared with expectations prior to the marriage
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
The average difference in life satisfaction in the first year of marriage (reaction)
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
The average difference in life satisfaction from one's baseline value in the second year after marriage and all subsequent years of marriage (adaptation)
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Compared daily activities between wife
Poor 49 12.34 and husband on weekday and weekend
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Compared working with husband and doing by yourself or with another
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Compared works each other’s at home and other places not home
Who is not married, not allow to answer 299 75.31
Activities each other within 30 days from survey day
Who is not married, not allow to answer 299 75.31 2nd
Who is not married, not allow to answer 295 80.16
About education are accumulated low level with 24 people, accounting for 6.05% and high level 75 (18.89%)
Fulltime job is reported by 63 people, accounting for 15.87% and part-time job is
36 people (9.07%) Occupation is categorized as follows: Private Office Workers 26 people (6.55%); State Employees 17 people (4.28%), Private Middle Level Management 13 people (3.27%), and others 42 people (10.59%)
The majority of individuals in the study are positioned in the middle and lower social classes, comprising 80 people (20.15%), while only 19 people (4.78%) belong to the top and upper levels The average monthly income reveals that 25 individuals (6.3%) earn VND 7.5 million, followed by 21 people (5.29%) earning VND 12.5 million Additionally, 10 individuals (2.52%) earn VND 17.5 million, and 9 people (2.27%) earn VND 2.5 million Higher income brackets include 6 individuals (5.54%) earning VND 22.5 million, 7 people (6.55%) earning VND 27.5 million, and another 7 individuals (1.51%) earning VND 32.5 million Furthermore, 2 people (3.27%) earn VND 37.5 million, while 11 individuals (4.79%) earn VND 40 million and above.
According to our survey, almost is good heath with 45 people (11.34%), average level of 26 people (6.55%) 21 people (5.29%) have very good health opposing; there are 7 people (1.76%) with very poor and poor level
Husband’s age has mean 38.08, at least 22 years and at most 70 years, mentioned in table 2.4 (Descriptive statistics by continuous variables)
Table 2.3: Descriptive statistics by independent variables – related to husband
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Who is not married, not allow to answer 299 75.31
Social Position top & upper 19 4.78 middle & lower 80 20.15
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Table 2.4: Descriptive statistics by continuous variables
Who is not married, not allow to answer 299 75.31
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
We describe 5 variables in this thesis with 2 questions for all people and the remaining for that is married, mentioned in table 2.5 (Descriptive statistics by dependent variables)
A recent survey asked individuals to rate their overall happiness on a scale from 1 to 10 The results revealed that 0.5% of participants rated their happiness at level 1, while 0.25% rated it at level 2 Levels 3 and 4 had 0.76% and 2.52% of respondents, respectively A significant portion, 15.62%, reported a happiness level of 5, and 29.72% rated themselves at level 6 Levels 7 and 8 received 22.92% and 13.6% of responses, respectively Finally, 6.55% of participants felt a happiness level of 9, and 7.56% rated themselves at the highest level of 10.
A survey assessing happiness levels on a scale from 1 (absolutely unsatisfied) to 10 (completely satisfied) revealed varied results among participants Only 3 individuals (0.76%) rated their happiness as a 1, while 2 (0.5%) chose a 2 A total of 4 people (1.01%) rated their happiness at 3, and 12 individuals (3.02%) at 4 The midpoint of the scale, level 5, received 58 responses (14.61%) Ratings continued with 114 people (28.72%) at level 6, 80 individuals (20.15%) at level 7, 59 respondents (14.86%) at level 8, 24 participants (6.05%) at level 9, and 41 people (10.33%) expressing complete satisfaction with a score of 10.
Related to the level of satisfaction in marriage, 99 samples are used to measure for 3 following questions
Results
We use regression to estimate the relationship between each happiness variable with a series of independent variables by basic model and full model
“Taking all things together, how would you describe your marriage? Would you say that your marriage is?”
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
“Compared to other marriages you know about, do you think your marriage is?”
About the same as most 52 13.10
Not as good as most 12 3.02
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
“Comparing your marriage to three years ago, is your marriage?”
Who is not married, not allow to answer 298 75.06
Table 3: Estimation results of the basic model
Variables Happy in life Happy moment
(0.0004) (0.0004) (0.0007) (0.0006) Junior middle school and below Base Base Base Base
Part-time job Base Base Base Base
Farming Base Base Base Base
Middle managers with foreign elements; Private
Senior management with foreign elements;
Variables Happy in life Happy moment
Social position: middle & lower Base Base Base Base
Frequency of going to church / pagoda/temple: often
Frequency of going to church / pagoda/temple: seldom
Frequency of going to church / pagoda/temple: never
Health: very poor & poor Base Base Base Base
Marital status: single Base Base Base Base
Marital status: not living with any man -0.109 -0.130 4.446*** 4.662***
Variables Happy in life Happy moment
Robust standard errors in parentheses
The analysis indicates that individuals with a junior college education experience a statistically significant and positive correlation with marital happiness compared to those with a junior middle school education or lower, reflected by a coefficient of 0.601 Conversely, this group shows a negative effect on happiness in daily moments, with a coefficient of -0.406, suggesting that their joyful experiences are less frequent than those of individuals with lower educational attainment Additionally, there is no discernible relationship between education level and overall life satisfaction or marital happiness.
Research indicates a statistically significant positive correlation (0.520) between full-time employment and marital happiness, suggesting that individuals in full-time jobs tend to experience greater happiness in their marriages compared to those in part-time positions This highlights the impact of job stability on overall life satisfaction and marital contentment.
Small traders experience a significant and positive effect on overall happiness, with coefficients of 0.325 for happiness in life and 0.449 for happiness in moments, indicating they are generally happier than those who are unemployed or engaged in farming Similarly, private office workers and state employees also report higher levels of happiness, with state employees scoring 0.773 for happiness in life and 0.759 for happiness in moments, while private office workers have coefficients of 0.497 and 0.490, respectively However, both state employees and private office workers show a negative relationship with marital happiness, scoring -0.974 and -1.012 for compared marriage, respectively, suggesting that while they are happier than the unemployed or farmers, they perceive their marital happiness as less favorable when compared to others.
= as not good as most
Social position plays a significant role in overall happiness, positively influencing general life satisfaction and happy moments, with coefficients of 0.520 and 0.496 However, it has a negative impact on marital happiness and comparisons of marriage, indicated by coefficients of -1.006 and -0.508 These findings suggest that individuals with higher social status tend to experience greater happiness in life and relationships compared to those with low or middle social positions.
Excellent health is significantly correlated with overall happiness in life, with a positive relationship score of 0.364 This suggests that individuals in very good health tend to experience greater happiness compared to those who are in poor health Additionally, moments of happiness and marital satisfaction are not adversely impacted by health status.
Research indicates that women not living with a man have a coefficient of 4.446 and 4.662, suggesting a positive correlation with happiness in marriage compared to being single This implies that women in this situation report greater happiness than those who are single Additionally, married individuals tend to experience higher levels of happiness than their single counterparts, with significant positive relationships noted in happy moments (0.265), happy marriages (8.940), and comparisons with other couples (8.654) Finally, the findings highlight that interest in cohabitation over traditional marriage also has a significant and positive impact on overall happiness.
(0.382) with happy in moment, mean, people are considered to be “cohabitant” and
“married”, and then their life will be happier moment than single
Table 4: Estimation results of the full model
Variables Happy in life Happy moment
Junior middle school and below Base Base Base Base
Part-time job Base Base Base Base
Farming Base Base Base Base
Middle managers with foreign elements; Private
Variables Happy in life Happy moment
Compare marriage Senior management with foreign elements;
& middle Base Base Base Base
Frequency of going to church / pagoda/temple: often
Frequency of going to church / pagoda/temple: seldom
Frequency of going to church / pagoda/temple: never
Health: poor & very poor Base Base Base Base
Marital status: single Base Base Base Base
Marital status: not living with any man -0.007 -0.004 4.901*** 5.176***
Variables Happy in life Happy moment
Sex frequency: 2-3 times/month or weekly
Sex frequency: one or twice a year/once a month
Sex frequency: 2-3 times/week or > 4 times per week
Husband’s education: low Base Base Base Base
Husbans’s part- time job Base Base Base Base
Husband’s occupation: private Base Base Base Base
Variables Happy in life Happy moment
Husband’s occupation: Private middle level management
Husband’s social position: top & upper
Husband’s health: very poor & poor Base Base Base Base
Variables Happy in life Happy moment
Robust standard errors in parentheses
The analysis of the full model reveals that educational level significantly impacts happiness in various aspects Individuals with a junior college education experience a statistically significant negative effect on happy moments (-0.397) compared to those with junior middle school education or lower However, they report a strong positive relationship with happy marriage (0.804) and a higher level of happiness when compared to other couples (1.356) This indicates that individuals with a junior college education tend to be happier in their marriages than those with lower educational attainment.
The analysis reveals that small traders experience a significant positive impact on happy moments (0.456) but a negative effect on happy marriage (-1.257), suggesting they find more joy in daily experiences compared to their counterparts in unemployment and farming, yet are less satisfied in marriage Private office workers also show a positive correlation with happiness in life (0.434) and happy moments (0.456), but a negative impact on happy marriage (-1.583) and compared marriage (-2.502), indicating they are generally happier than those in unemployment and farming Similarly, state employees report high levels of happiness in life (0.841) and happy moments (0.838), but face negative effects on marriage satisfaction (-2.628) and compared marriage (-2.561) Conversely, middle management roles do not correlate with happiness in life, moments, or marriage, but show significant negative impacts when compared to marriage, suggesting that various management levels, including private and state middle management, as well as senior management roles, are less happy than individuals in unemployment and farming.
A higher coefficient of social position correlates positively with overall life happiness (0.446) and momentary happiness (0.407), while showing no significant relationship with marital happiness or satisfaction This suggests that individuals with elevated social status tend to experience greater happiness in life and during specific moments compared to those with lower or middle social standings.
The coefficient of income is significant and positive relationship with happy marriage (0.051) and compared marriage (0.057) This manifest the more income is the happier in marriage and compared marriage
The coefficient indicating the frequency of never attending a church, pagoda, or temple is significantly positive at 0.730 This suggests that individuals who do not participate in these religious activities report higher levels of marital happiness compared to those who do.
The analysis reveals that women not living with any man have a coefficient of 4.901 and 5.176, indicating a positive relationship with happiness in marriage compared to single individuals This suggests that women in this situation experience greater happiness than those who are single Furthermore, married individuals report higher levels of happiness than those who are single or cohabiting, with coefficients of 10.18 and 9.564, respectively, showcasing a strong significance in their marital satisfaction Additionally, the data indicates a significant and positive effect (0.428) for those interested in cohabitation, highlighting their momentary happiness.
“cohabitant” then their life will be happier moment than single
Research indicates that individuals engaging in sexual activity two to three times per month or weekly experience a statistically significant negative correlation with marriage satisfaction, reflected in coefficients of -0.507 for overall marriage and -0.616 for happy marriage This suggests that those who maintain a more regular sexual frequency tend to report greater happiness compared to those who engage in sexual activity only once or twice a year or once a month.
Having sex out of marriage will be less happy in life and happy moment even happy in marriage because their coefficient are – 0.946, -1.160, and 1.018, respectively and statistically significant
The coefficient of range for children aged 6 to 12 years shows a statistically significant positive relationship with both happy marriages (0.805) and compared marriages (0.883) This indicates that individuals with children in this age group tend to report higher levels of marital happiness.
A statistically significant positive relationship exists between couples working together, indicating that increased joint activities lead to greater happiness in the moment (0.054) and overall life satisfaction (0.068) The study does not address the differences between happy and compared marriages.
Husbands employed in private middle-level management exhibit a statistically significant negative relationship with marital happiness, with a coefficient of -0.925 This indicates that these individuals tend to experience lower levels of marital satisfaction compared to their counterparts working in private office roles.