Who Are Happier, Employed Women or Housewives?

Today, happiness and life satisfaction play a crucial role in women’s health in every society. This study was conducted to compare the level of happiness and life satisfaction between employed women and housewives and to examine the factors affecting it.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 720 employed women and housewives in Kerman, Iran in 2017. The Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI), Diener Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, and a demographic profile were used for data collection. Regression analysis was used to determine the correlation of different factors with happiness and life satisfaction.

The mean ± standard deviation of the total happiness and life satisfaction score was 42/6 ± 13/2 out of 87 (43/3 ± 13/6 in employees and 42/7 ± 12/7 in housewives, P =0/21) and 23/5 ± 6/1 out of 35 (23/8 ± 6/3 in employees and 23/2 ± 5/8, in housewives, P = 0/24), respectively. Additionally, most of the subjects (55%) reported a moderate level of happiness. Regression analysis indicated that married women who had a university education and those who spent their free time on leisure and traveling had higher scores of happiness and life satisfaction. As for the employed women, those with limited work records and those who were officially employed had significantly higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction.

This study showed a moderate level of happiness and life satisfaction in women. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the level of happiness and life satisfaction between employed women and housewives.