Tuesday, 08 March 2011
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The Top 10 Happiest States Are...
If you're happy and you know it... you most likely live in the Western United States. That's according to a survey done by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which polled over 350,000 adults across the country.
The survey covered six different categories well-being: "life evaluation (self-evaluation about your present life situation and anticipated one in five years); emotional health; work environment (such as job satisfaction); physical health; healthy behavior; and basic access (access to health care, a doctor, a safe place to exercise and walk, as well as community satisfaction)."
So where does your state fall on the list?
It's no surprise that a place with sunshine, surf, and sand tops the list. Hawaii is the #1 state in the union when it comes to the well being of its residents, as it scored high in three categories: life evaluation, emotional health and physical health. Who wouldn't want to live there?!
Rounding out the rest of the top 10:
2. Wyoming
3. North Dakota
4. Alaska
5. Colorado
6. Minnesota
7. South Dakota (they reported the most favorable and positive working conditions)
8. Utah
9. Connecticut
10. Massachusetts (residents "indicated the best access to necessities crucial to high well-being")
For those who live in the South, some of your states fell at the bottom of the list. West Virginia came in last, not scoring well in life evaluation, emotional health, and physical health.
Here's the bottom of the list:
41. Michigan
42. Louisiana
43. Delaware
44. Nevada
45. Ohio
46. Alabama
47. Arkansas
48. Mississippi
49. Kentucky
50. West Virginia
Click here for the entire list.
For the Top 10 residents, do you love living in your state? If you live in the states who were ranked in the lower portion, do you think your state deserves it ranking?
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- From: saraspeaks@xanga
- About Me: Just a former fat kid, having a blast writing for Healthkicker, Lovelyish and its sister sites. When I'm not thinking up new posts, you can find me at the gym, playing dodgeball with my kick-ass team, reading, reciting movie and TV lines ("That's what she said..."), and enjoying the company of my friends and fam.
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Comments (50)
I live in the #47 state... oh well, I'm still fairly happy! :)
Wow, Washington's at # 13?! I figured since it's practically rainy/cloudy/cold year round here, we'd be all depressed and near the bottom. Eh, maybe it's all the coffee that perks us up! :D
#45.
I was born in MA. No wonder. :)
I live in the bottom 10 ranked-LV, Nevada and I love it here; lots of hot men, lots of shopping, lots of sunshine. I don't gamble or drink, which is the main attraction here. I can see why some were unhappy when they likely lost all of their money gambling, couldn't pay their mortgage, lost their house and no more money to wine and dine hot chicks.
"sunshine, surf, and sand" for #1. Then look at 2-10! I get depressed in Minnesota mostly during winter--as much as I love this state and think it's a great place to live and grow up--but when I moved to Florida I really didn't like it there and felt I'd made a mistake. I think it's strange people I talk to strongly factor in warm weather with how nice it would be to live in a particular place. There are so many more important things than that.
41. For now anyway. It's okay. I guess I'm not thrilled to live here and most people want to get out. Haha.
I call 12, Maryland, my home though. And yes, I love it there. I wouldn't trade living there for anything.
I live in Utah, so number 8
Not always my favorite thing living here, but it's alright. It's pretty, and clean, and safe, so that's good I suppose.
My sister lives in #1 and hates it. Being from the mainland, she has Island Fever and feels cooped up and trapped all the time, since she's surrounded by ocean. Plus everything costs a ton and the rent is high, so she spends all her time working to make enough to get by.
The west contains the most spacious parts of the United States, for that i would say what this suggests would be no surprise. Fresher air, more in touch with nature(where we may, at large, have forgot we come from), less crowding, less encroachment from government, and so on. Popular music and television might give you the idea that New York City, L.A., "ATL", Las Vegas(notice Nevada being low on the list, "the gamblers misery", perhaps. not to mention half a century of nuclear fallout.) and other neon skies are the crown jewels of living, but that is, of course, where a ton of money is to be made by their advertisers. Money, yet again, not equating with happiness in the grand scheme of things. One must keep in mind, though, in regards to this specific study that it has a methodology, like any other, and that methodology need be examined to pin down exactly what the study defines as "happiness." It would probably benefit for someone to cross reference this against other current studies regarding perceptive views of happiness across the states and come to a potentially denser result.
There are only 9.3 points of difference between Hawaii and West Virginia. I'd say we're all doing pretty well.
My Tennessee is #40
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Yay Minnesota!
Connecticut... and I don't think its a happy state =\ Especially not with this winter, lol.
lol, don't most of the states in the top ten have low population levels? maybe people are just happier if they have more space.
Haha, it's raining right now and snow or rain is forecast for the next 4 days. No wonder Ohio is near the bottom.
@BebstersBlog2@xanga - I was gonna say... Ohio's at the bottom. BAHAHAHAHA
i am not surprized that colorado is #5. it is a beautiful state and many people here have COME to be here to pursue activities they love (most of them involving nature) ... being close to nature is very important to true happiness, i believe.
@Axis_of_Doom@xanga - lol, yeah it can't get much worse than Ohio, especially the Northeast. Although West Virginia is pretty bad too. xD
@BebstersBlog2@xanga - I'm in the Southeast in Athens. Big party town, actually.
But I'm #18 California baby, reppin the bay area!! I'm 100% happy with where I live.
Maryland's #12 on the list. Not too shabby! We've got the beach, a beautiful bay, and mountains - all in one state.
I love the picture. lol
# 49 lol wtf
Hawaii <3