Residents of Some States More Stressed Than Others

July 9, 2013

Two of five American feel a lot of stress, particularly those living in West Virginia, Rhode Island and Kentucky.

Residents of Hawaii, however, have the lowest stress levels in the United States, by a substantial amount.

That’s according to recent Gallup interviews with more than 350,000 people nationwide as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

Asked if they experienced stress yesterday, more than 40 percent of respondents said “yes,” a similar number as past years.

Fewer people reported feeling stressed in the following states. (Hawaii ranked first for the past five years, and was the only state in the top five for five years.):

Hawaii
32.1%

Louisiana
37.6

Mississippi
37.9

Iowa
38.1

Wyoming
38.6

Hawaii also ranked highest when residents were asked if they experienced enjoyment yesterday. The national average for Americans was 84.9 percent.

Hawaii
89.7%

Wyoming
88.8

Utah
88.7

North Dakota
87.9

Idaho
87.3

At the other end of the scale, residents of West Virginia, Rhode Island and Kentucky ranked among the highest stressed, as well as the lowest in term of enjoying life.

More people reported feeling stressed in these states:

West Virginia
47.1%

Rhode Island
46.3

Kentucky
44.8

Utah
44.6

Massachusetts
43.4

Fewer people felt enjoyment in the following states:

Rhode Island
80.4%

Kentucky
81.3

Kentucky
44.8

Utah
44.6

Massachusetts
43.4

Interestingly, although residents of Utah are among the highest stressed, they are also among those who felt enjoyment more often.