A recent survey shows 80 percent of the women in Shanghai feel "very happy" or "relatively happy." Photo: IC

Are more than 80 percent of the women in Shanghai "very happy" or "relatively happy?" According to a survey conducted by the Shanghai Municipal Women and Children Committee and the East China Normal University, this is how some 80 percent of 1,004 women in the city's seven districts described themselves. From the five options on the questionnaire - "very happy" "relatively happy" "so-so" "not very happy" and "not happy at all" - 85.7 percent respondents chose the first two.

The survey is part of the Shanghai Female Happiness Index Report which was released last week revealing the lives and thoughts of city women of all ages. The survey said that the average happiness index of women in Shanghai was 3.54 out of 5. More specifically, the average index was 3.52 for women aged between 18 and 40, 3.53 for women aged 41-56, 3.59 for 56-60, and 3.56 for those aged 61 or more.

Surprisingly unmarried women were the happiest group, enjoying a happiness index of 3.56. Married women rated themselves 3.55 on the index and widows listed themselves at 3.44. Divorced women proved the least happy, scoring a comparatively low 3.18.

Of the married women, those who had been married for less than three years felt the least happy (3.43 out of 5), while women who had been married for more than 20 years had the highest happiness index at 3.56.

The report suggested that two traditional beliefs were the main elements that made women happy - a harmonious family and a healthy body and mind. More than 70 percent of the respondents thought these two things were the main sources of their happiness. Just 12.5 percent felt "a well-paid job and a wealthy life" were a major source of happiness.

After the report was released last week the Global Times talked to six women of different ages and backgrounds and asked them how they defined happiness and what it meant to them.

Wei Ran (24), postgraduate student, single. Happiness rating: 3.9 out of 5.

My postgraduate major is translation and I really like this work. Translation is an art and it always gives me pleasure. I feel at peace when I sit down at my computer and begin to translate documents.

I graduated with a bachelor's degree from a normal university and I'd like to be a teacher after I graduate from the Shanghai International Studies University in March, 2017. I like being with children and teaching what I've learned to the next generation makes me feel fulfilled and gratified.

Though I major in what I liked and have close friends around me, I feel lost when I think about the future. Who am I marrying? What kind of job will I get? Where might I live? All these unknown things bother me a lot. I know that worrying about them can't help at all, while fighting for the future can. I believe that working hard and improving myself will bring me what I deserve.

Happiness means different things for different people. For me, doing the things I like and being with the one I love is what makes me happy. I am working hard for this and I am glad that I'm on the way to happiness.

Zhao Yang (28), television director, married for one year. No children. Happiness rating: 4.8 out of 5.

My university major was journalism, and now I'm happy to be in a media job where I can put what I learned at school into practice.

Away from work I have a full life. I'm a big fan of the Inter Milan football team and I joined Inter Milan's fan club in Shanghai and often take part in its activities. In July, Inter Milan came to China and stayed in Shanghai for a whole week - that was really exciting.

I'm satisfied with my life at present. I have a good husband and when I was sick he took good care of me. I get on well with my in-laws. Though I'm not a multimillionaire, I have no financial pressures and can afford whatever I want to buy. But I think that there are many things that are more important than money, like a good married life.

In June I fell ill after a trip to Macao. I was really distressed and felt dizzy all the time. Fortunately my husband, who had hardly ever done housework before, learned to cook and clean the house, and he looked after me wonderfully during my illness. He's a good man.

Chen Chuanmei (49), salesperson, married for 26 years. Mother of a 24-year-old son. Happiness rating: 2.5 out of 5.

I don't think that the 2.5 rating is a very low score - it's half the total mark. My job is not very well-paid, but I don't want to complain about that a lot. As an old Chinese saying goes, a contented mind is a perpetual feast. Compared with money, I believe that health and a good relationship with your family are more important for a happy life.

Sometimes when I feel unhappy, I go shopping for myself. For a woman, the best way to be happy is to always be shopping. When I'm unhappy I usually go to buy brand-name clothing or whatever I might have thought was a little expensive at other times - it's a good way to relieve pressure.

My son has just graduated and has a good job, which is quite a comfort for me. As a working woman and a mother, I now have two big dreams: one is to retire as early as possible, and the other is to see my son get married and have his own family.

For me, "happiness" is more about having an attitude instead of a condition. I believe that as long as you are optimistic and contented, you can still feel happy even if you are not financially well off.

Wu Jiayin (33), designer, married for seven years. Mother of a 4-year-old boy. Happiness rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I have had many jobs, but fortunately I finally got my current position which is really satisfying. Most designers have to work in the evenings and don't get home until midnight. But my work lets me stay at home at night. As a wife and mother, I really want to spend time with my family.

When I feel unhappy, I try to cheer myself up by reading stories about people who are living hard lives, like migrant workers. Their stories remind me to appreciate my work and life, and I can put the unpleasant things aside.

I had a very happy time this year when I had an art exhibition near the People's Square with friends. Helping to organize the art exhibition was one of my biggest thrills and it allowed me to explore my personal values and grow more confident.

I think that I would be happier if my husband could sometimes help me look after our son. Almost all Chinese husbands, like my husband, hardly ever help raise their children. If I was a housewife I wouldn't complain. But I also work and earn money, as most Chinese wives do. It's unfair that women have to be busy with work, housework and looking after babies, while their husbands enjoy a relaxed life after work.

Shen Ying (36), HR manager, married for seven years. Mother of a 5-year-old girl. Happiness rating: 3 out of 5.

Before I had a child I had lots of free time to do what I liked, such as doing yoga. But now I devote all my spare time to raising my daughter: I always accompany her to her piano lessons and take her on trips at weekends. I haven't done any yoga for a long time. I haven't got the time.

I am busy at work. Sometimes when I get back home late after work, my daughter will have fallen asleep. I had been thinking of applying for an MBA course but I had to give up on that idea because my schedule is filled with work and looking after my child, and I would have hardly any time to study.

I think that like me, many people of my age in this city have a lot of pressures, especially financial pressures. We have kids to raise, parents to support and mortgages to pay.

My daughter, who will go to primary school next year, still sleeps in our bedroom. We are thinking about buying a bigger house with an extra bedroom for her but that would cost a lot more money.

Anyway, I'm very happy with a harmonious family and a cute daughter. One morning she suddenly turned to us and said: "Dad and mum, I love you more and more!" My husband and I were ecstatic. That was one of the happiest moments in my life.

Yin Yawei (28), unemployed, married for two and a half years. No children. Happiness rating: 4.8 out of 5.

I recently quit my job and I'm staying home for the present. In the years after I graduated I tried lots of jobs, most of them to do with marketing.

I had successful job interview last week and will go back to work soon. I don't want to stay at home without a job for ever. The new job is still involved in marketing - it will be interesting but tiring work.

I think my family's health is the essential element that makes me happy. Years ago, when I had just graduated from college, my grandparents suddenly became ill and then died. Sadly, at that time, I was too busy with my work to look after them. Even today, I sometimes worry about what I might be able to do if my parents or my husband fall ill.

When I feel unhappy, I call a friend and pour out my troubles, or I play with my dogs. Most of my unhappiness is related to work, but I don't want to complain about my work at home too much. A happy, harmonious family is very important to me.

I had a very happy moment in a previous job. As a straight-talking person who had quarreled with colleagues over work at times, I had thought that no one would say goodbye to me when I was leaving. But, to my surprise, on my last day there, when I stood up and walked to the door with my belongings, all my colleagues in the office came up to me and hugged me. I cried.

For me "happiness" means that I can achieve my goals through my own efforts. Accomplishing big or small things makes me feel content.

Hu Han contributed to this story