SWS: 47% optimistic quality of life will improve in next 12 months

Nearly half of adult Filipinos are optimistic the quality of their lives will improve in the next 12 months, according to results of a latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The SWS, conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults ages 18 and above from September 14 to 23 with a ±2.5% margin of error, found that 47% are “optimists” who said that their quality of life will improve.

The survey also found that 40% said that “it will stay the same” and 5% said that “it will worsen.”

The remaining 8%, meanwhile, did not give an answer.

The September 2024 Net Personal Optimism score was similar to the excellent +41 in June 2024, following a slight increase from very high +37 in March 2024.

The score was classified by the SWS as “excellent.”

The study yielded "excellent" results in optimism in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, and among college graduates, junior high school graduates, and elementary graduates.

The survey also resulted in very high optimism scores for Visayas and Mindanao, and non-elementary graduates.

Quality of life may worsen

Meanwhile, 5% of the survey respondents were pessimistic or said that their quality of life may worsen over the next year.

SWS’ quality of life survey often produced positive results, save for only 11 times since it was first fielded in April 1984.

Net optimism reached a historic low amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in May 2020, with a score of -19.

Data for the third quarter survey was gathered through face-to-face interviews of over 1,500 individuals, aged 18 and up, nationwide. SWS said that the survey had a ±2.5% margin of error. — Jiselle Anne Casucian and Ted Cordero/BAP, GMA Integrated News