The most miserable states in the USA

[n2doc]

Ashley C. Allen, Thomas C. Frohlich and Alexander E.M. Hess

The well-being of Americans hasn't improved in the past six years, and it even declined slightly in 2013, according to a recent Gallup study. While national figures remained flat overall, the ranks of the states with the highest well-being scores changed considerably. North Dakota topped the well-being list in 2013 after failing to crack the top 10 in 2012. Hawaii, 2012's top state, fell to eighth in 2013. West Virginia, on the other hand, remained at the bottom of the list for the fifth consecutive year.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which interviewed more than 176,000 people from all 50 states last year, measures the physical and emotional health of Americans across the country.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the more than 50 metrics comprising the six broad categories Gallup used to identify well-being.

Well-being matters because it effectively reflects health, employment, education and the local environment, Dan Witters, research director of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, told 24/7 Wall St.

more

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/02/23/most-miserable-states/5729305/

The list:
1. WV
2. KY
3. MS
4. AL
5. OH
6. AR
7. TN
8. MO
9. OK
10. LA

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. I wish I knew why Florida is not listed in there. nt

[TexasTowelie]

2. Disney World.

[opiate69]

5. And a whole bunch of well-off, retired New Englanders.. (my dad included)

[Sarah Ibarruri]

23. Maybe! nt

[SummerSnow]

4. The man who founded the paper 'USA Today' lived in Florida before his death

last year. His name is Al Neuharth. Wonder if that is a factor?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Neuharth

* i did a little research and that is what i found*

[Sarah Ibarruri]

22. Might be! nt

[Eleanors38]

15. Yes, it must frustrate the Florida-haters, here.

[L0oniX]

40. +1

[Tommy_Carcetti]

37. Because batshit crazy politics and laws aside, it's actually a great place to live.

I know that sounds contradictory, but it's part of the package of living here. One becomes a Floridaphile in spite of itself.

Great weather, great nature (at least that hasn't been carved up yet), plenty of access to water.

Despite Gerrymandering 101 creating the mess in Tallahassee, and the resulting corruption and idiotic laws that result because of it, on a day to day basis and without looking at the headlines, I love it here. Wouldn't live anywhere else.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

38. Aside from Fl being right wing and unpleasant politically...

I'm not fond of Florida's unbelievably humid-hot weather. Going outside in Florida is a bit like stepping into a steam room, or a shower, you're either getting soaked or being steamed like a lobster. Florida is a great place to live if one never leaves air conditioning.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

39. Humidity doesn't bother me personally.

It helps keep things green and lush. Unlike hot climates out West, which are much more brown, arid and very prone to forest fires.

I understand it's a personally preference but I don't mind a warm, humid climate.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

47. Ah! That might be why you don't mind it. I really react badly to humidity...

it congests my sinuses, gives me a splitting headache and pain behind the eyes. Those gray, about-to-rain skies depress me to no end.

On the other hand, when I lived in Beverly Hills, California, in Israel, and in Madrid, where it seldom rains, I felt so good I was about ready to bust out of my body with joy every day. It was a delight to me.

You know, I even hate getting sweaty. If I work out, the temp has to be set really low (and it is at the gym I go to). Anything about heat plus a wet environment just does me in.

[tosh]

41. It wasn't always right wing and unpleasant politically.

Some of us HOPE to return Florida to its natural state, politically speaking.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

43. It's far less right wing than many people think.

Look at the past two presidential elections.

The "right wing" reputation is a result of extreme gerrymandering, so a state that's virtually a 50-50 split ends up with a super right wing legislature that passes super right wing laws.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

46. Me too! I'm on board with you! nt

[former9thward]

3. Very subjective as these things usually are.

It totally leaves out climate which is a reason the population center moves south and west every year.

[Cali_Democrat]

6. 9 of the top 10 are red states

Clearly they just need more bibles and gunz.

[cali]

11. flat out bulloney. seriously?

Hawaii is not a red state

Minnesota is not a red state.

Colorado is not a red state

vermont is not a red state



Iowa is a purple state

[Cali_Democrat]

14. I meant the top 10 of the most miserable.

Chill out. LOL.

I'm just trying to point out that the miserable states tend to be more religious and fervent in their support for the 2nd amendment.

[Eleanors38]

16. Nice outreach. nt

[Cali_Democrat]

17. What do you mean? nt

[cordelia]

21. The divisiveness never ends, does it?

[Eleanors38]

28. And they always want it explained.

[Art_from_Ark]

32. Yup, it's yet another "Not this shit again" thread

[theHandpuppet]

18. What do you define as a red state

And which do you identify as red states using your criteria?

[Cali_Democrat]

19. ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_states_and_blue_states

[theHandpuppet]

20. So that's a list based solely on presidential elections

Not exactly how I would define a red state, that's why I asked.

[a la izquierda]

31. WV has a democratic governor...

And two democratic senators, fwiw.

[Control-Z]

7. I wonder how many of these states

have a Republican governor and no medicaid expansion.

[CFLDem]

8. I think it's mostly because there's dick to do in those states.

Which is a side effect of depressed economies.

[Fawke Em]

9. ????

Not sure about the others, but in Tennessee, we've got the Smokies, Graceland, the Opry, a great music scene, Dollywood and shitloads of lakes and waterways.

There's plenty to do here - and a lot of it for free or cheaply.

I think it's more because they have Republican controlled state houses that vote to make things miserable for anyone but the top 1 percent.

[CFLDem]

13. But relatively speaking

there's far less to do there then say, New York or Chicago.

[Lurker Deluxe]

34. LOL

Relative to what?

What is there to do in NY (assuming you mean NYC since the other example is a city) that you can not do in the STATE of Tennessee??

I would much rather spend a week in Gatlinburg then a day in NYC or Chicago.

[shaayecanaan]

35. I was bored shitless in new York...

Spent two days there. I went to times square and uh, looked at the billboards. Bit underwhelming really.

New Hampshire, now that was a beautiful place.

[CFLDem]

36. Then you would be part of the happy minority in those states.

That's all that proves.

[Lurker Deluxe]

48. Well ...

I live in Texas which, according that index, is higher in well being than both New York (35) and Illinois (22).

So, guess all those people in NYC and Chicago ain't so happy after all ... maybe there just isn't that much to do.

[CFLDem]

49. That's because Texans are crazy.

[SaintLouisBlues]

10. You can barely spell misery without Missouri

We're going backwards, and with both the Delta and the Ozarks, two of the most historically poor parts of the country, we can not afford to go backwards.

[stage left]

12. SC didn't make the top ten? I'm shocked.

This is the kind of top ten list we're usually in.

[johnnyreb]

24. Looks like #40, "moving up" to 38 in 2013

http://info.healthways.com/wbi2013

[stage left]

42. Thanks for the link.

In the bottom dozen and toward the bottom in Median income per a post below. Now I feel better?

[Sissyk]

25. That's funny!

Somebody forgot to tell me I'm miserable in Tn.

[truebluegreen]

26. Looks entirely predictable to me

since the governments of those states seem to be focused on making life worse for their residents...

[woo me with science]

27. Hope and change!

The well-being of Americans hasn't improved in the past six years, and it even declined slightly in 2013, according to a recent Gallup study.

TPP on the horizon! SS cuts on the table!

[JoeyT]

29. Just for kicks, the last ten states by median household income:

50: Mississippi
49: West Virginia
48: Arkansas
47: Kentucky
46: Alabama
45: Tennessee
44: Louisiana
43: New Mexico
42: South Carolina
41: Oklahoma
40: Idaho

Pretty close match. Ohio is 35, Montana is 38.

[B Calm]

33. +1 I think you found

The answer!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

45. a-ha.

although, I have it heard said that correlation is not causation .

[eShirl]

30. I'm surprised Maine isn't there.

[GoneOffShore]

44. Interesting link in that article.

About the most literate cities and least.

http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/02/21/americas-most-and-least-literate-cities-2/

There are some surprises.

[eppur_se_muova]

50. I've lived and worked in 5 of the worst 7 ...

can't disagree with the rankings, except in fine details.

[Common Sense Party]

51. Here is the full list.

http://info.healthways.com/wbi2013


?t=1392399695000

[indepat]

52. Wonder how many of that illustrious group of ten enjoy the fruits of RW-controlled local governance?