By Yun Suh-young
Low income earners tend to be twice as unhappy as those in higher income brackets, according to a study.
A report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs released Thursday showed the level of unhappiness for those in the low income bracket stood at 12.6 points, far above 5.5 points for high income earners. Those who receive above 17 points are likely to have depression.
According to the report, about 30 percent of those with low incomes scored 17 points. The study calls for measures against tackling depression and attention to be directed toward low income households.
“The risk of more middle income households being absorbed into the lower income bracket is increasing as family bonds are weakening and thus the safety net is broken due to internal conflicts,” the report said.
“Economic difficulties caused by rising prices and unemployment rates are also contributing to the phenomenon. Comprehensive measures for the welfare of families are urgent,” it added.
The report showed that people with a low income were less healthy and less satisfied with their family relationships.
About half of those in the low income bracket answered their health status was poor whereas only 6.7 percent of high income earners answered so.
As for family relations, 85.9 percent of high income earners answered they were satisfied with their family relationships whereas only 61.5 percent of those in the low income bracket answered the same.
In terms of subscription to social safety insurance, those in the lower income brackets were less likely to register. For national health insurance, only 78.4 percent of poor people were subscribers whereas 99.6 percent of the rich people were subscribers. For occupational accident insurance, only 40.9 percent of low income earners were registered whereas 83.5 percent of high income earners signed up.
In the meantime, the institute said that six out of 10 households are in financial difficulty due to disease, debt, unemployment and soaring costs for children’s education.
Its recent survey showed that 57.8 percent of the nation’s 17.33 million households may confront a crisis because of the deteriorating problems. About 23 percent cited illness as the most serious problem, followed by debt and other financial pinch (22.3 percent) and joblessness (4.74 percent).
The institute pointed out that people lack awareness about the problems of households, and don’t know how to effectively cope with potential household crises.