Despite the pressure to work longer hours many employees claim to be happy with the amount of time left over for their personal life, according to a survey published today.

A total of 46 per cent of those interviewed thought they had the right balance between work and home.

The apparent drive to earn more is also contradicted by the poll which found 66 per cent of men and 67 per cent of women claim there is more to life than making money.

Far more important is spending time with family, according to the 2,000 adults questioned for market analysts Mintel.

Seven out of ten said keeping in close touch with loved ones was the most important "lifestyle priority".

The result appears to be falling levels of stress among workers.

When asked, 46 per cent said their life was "quite stressful", down from 48 per cent in 1997.

Mintel's report - British Lifestyles 2003 - analysed previously published government data plus its own studies to build a picture of life in Britain today.

The average worker now has 35 per cent more disposable income compared with ten years ago.

Consumers owed a total of £800 billion at the start of last year on all types of debt, including mortgages.

Meanwhile, the number of people making a regular visit to their GP has fallen from 51.7 per cent in 1992 to 50.9 per cent in 2002, while spending on complementary medicines has risen.