[Satisfaction with living conditions and health]

In the present publication, contentment with different life areas like work, housing, financial situation, health, familial situation and with life in general is described. The analysis is based on data of the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998, in which a representative sample of the German residential population between 18 and 79 years of age participated in a standardized interview with regard to health relevant topics as well as in a medical examination. In general, women are more content with their life than men. In all age classes, contentment with life is higher in the West than in the East. Highest contentment is observed with family (over 70%) and housing, and lowest with financial situation. The East German residents show the highest degree of dissatisfaction in the age-group of 20 to 29 years regarding their financial situation (20%). In comparison to 1991, contentment with life is reduced negligibly in the East, and in the West it approximately remained the same. Men and women in both parts of Germany are more content with their health today than ten years ago. In contrast, contentment with the financial situation as well as the work situation is lower than ten years ago.