So says a joint poll by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and Abac Poll Research Centre of residents of 20 provinces between January 14 and 22.

A sample of 4,416 respondents aged between 15 and 60 was categorised into five geographic areas: Bangkok, the Central region, the North, the Northeast and the South.

“The findings came as no surprise because Bangkok residents face fierce competition as well as environmental and housing problems,” said Deputy Prime Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul, who chairs the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.

“We will use these findings in planning relevant policies,” Suchai said.

Only 18.5 per cent of Bangkok residents were optimistic that they would be happier soon, compared to 52.9 per cent of respondents in the South, the most cheery lot of all sample groups.

Asked the major cause of their despondency, many Bangkokians complained of family problems and a lack of good role models and political leaders. They also faulted neighbours for being unkind and unhelpful, saying people in their community were generally sour and disrespectful.

“Bangkok residents also complained about materialism, selfishness, shamelessness, lack of conscience, lack of religious morals and emotional solace, as well as the high rates of crime and drug abuse in the city,” Suchai said.

Poverty, however, featured most prominently among respondents in the Northeast.

Nevertheless, Suchai said the emotional well-being of Thais seemed quite sound overall.