The research which has surveyed about 15000 respondents using four research methods including vocabulary association and classification，compilation scale and questionnaire was used to preparation of the “Needs for a Better Life Scale”. The study found that the structure of people’s needs for a better life were divided into three dimensions that including individual material，family and interpersonal relationship，and national and social environment. Family relations and national social dimensions were more important. Needs for a better life was highly correlated with the sense of acquisition，security and well-being. Through the changes of social mentality indicators such as security，happiness，acquisition，fairness and life pressure in the survey data for more than ten years，the paper analyzed the factors that affecting needs for a better life and its trends. The enlightenment and policy suggestions for these results to meet the needs for a better life are also put forward.