The unhappiest state?
A study published in the journal Science (press release) this week concludes that people in New York State have the "lowest satisfaction with life" of any state.
The study, which was conducted by researchers in the UK and at Hamilton College here in New York, wasn't exactly out to rank the satisfaction of people in each state. The researchers were looking to see how closely responses to the question "In general, how satisfied are you with your life?" on an annual CDC survey match up with a model based on objective measures such as weather, commuting time and crime.
The researchers report that the two approaches have a strong positive correlation (that is, they match up well). And, as it happens, New York State ranks last in both models.
So, which state is first? Based on the survey data, Louisiana is #1 (the objective measures model had Wyoming pegged as #1, with Louisiana at #8).
The full rankings from the latest study (the one based on survey responses) are after the jump.
Earlier on AOA: New York is for neurotics
- Louisiana
- Hawaii
- Florida
- Tennessee
- Arizona
- Mississippi
- Montana
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Maine
- Alaska
- North Carolina
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Arkansas
- Vermont
- Georgia
- Oklahoma
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Utah
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Oregon
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- Washington
- District of Columbia
- Missouri
- Nevada
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
- Ohio
- Illinois
- California
- Indiana
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- New York
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.
Comments
Is the ranking shown for the survey or the objective measures?
Either way, there are quite a few surprises (California, for one)
... said Jessica R on Dec 18, 2009 at 2:29 PM | link
@Jessica: The rankings are based on the survey response data. I just updated the post to make that clear.
... said Greg on Dec 18, 2009 at 2:33 PM | link
This is not surprising for the state with the second highest tax rate and the most dysfunctional government in the country. The only happy people are the jokers in the assembly that can do as they please without consequences.
What is surprising? Is that people still move here.
I'd be interested to know if the suicide rate matches the above stats.
... said Jon (was) in Michigan on Dec 18, 2009 at 3:16 PM | link
How is Hawaii not number 1?
... said Lucy on Dec 18, 2009 at 3:19 PM | link
Wow! Louisiana #1 and Mississippi #6 in this post-Katrina era sure proves that happiness is all in the attitude!
... said KM on Dec 18, 2009 at 4:11 PM | link
Funny, I see something of an inverse relationship with this US Census state educational level info.
Maybe ignorance really is bliss.
... said B on Dec 18, 2009 at 4:18 PM | link
Hey! I live here and I STILL like it!
... said Eric (in Albany since 1983) on Dec 18, 2009 at 5:12 PM | link
I read an article about this study on another website and it said it was conducted pre-Katrina. It would be interesting to see if that effected the results and how.
... said Ashley on Dec 19, 2009 at 5:09 PM | link
If it was post-September 11 and pre-Katrina that would explain a lot.
Not to be defensive but I do heart New York; am pretty happy myself; and don't find the New Yorkers I see each day very unhappy.
... said KM on Dec 19, 2009 at 9:02 PM | link