What is happiness? Well, philosophy has been trying to answer that for the longest time – and let’s be honest, haven’t we all? But when you truly dissect the concept, it’s simply a combination of internal and external factors. It’s when we surround ourselves with positivity, or spend time with the people we love, when we’re outside getting fresh air, or when we get to enjoy our hobbies. However, some things are out of our control: the cost of living, economic uncertainty, political tension, and what-not. And truthfully, these have taken a toll: today, just 44% of Americans are “very satisfied” with their lives. That isn’t a great number when looking at the big picture – but it does get better when it comes to California, one of the happiest states in the US.
A study looking at happiness
WalletHub leveraged insights from happiness research to identify what factors are most closely tied to overall well-being and life satisfaction. To determine where Americans experience the strongest combination of these factors, the study evaluated all 50 states using 30 key metrics. These include depression rates, productiveness, income growth, and unemployment levels.
California is the 7th happiest state in the US
According to the insights gathered from maaaannyy research papers and surveys, California ends up being the 7th happiest state in the US.
Here’s what’s not surprising: a big part of our high ranking is thanks to the “Emotional & Physical Well-Being” category, where we’re 4th in the whole nation.
We also ranked 11th in the US for “Community & Environment,” a factor we’re learning more each day plays a crucial role in happiness, quality of life, and even longevity.
Here’s what may come as a surprise: we’re not performing well at all when it comes to “Work Environment.” In fact, we’re nearly at the bottom, ranking a concerning 45th. Perhaps this is a signal that this area deserves greater focus and energy, and that meaningful change is needed for all our sakes.
Overall, California is also the 5th least depressed state – we’ll take that!
How do other states rank?
Okay – so, who beat us?!
- The happiest state in the US is Hawaii, followed by Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Utah.
Fun fact: Hawaiians also have the longest life expectancy in the US. Nearly 72% of adults there report being active and productive on a daily basis.
- The 5 least happy states are West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Alaska.
- The highest rate of adult depression is found in Oregon, while the lowest one is in New Jersey.
- Vermont scores the highest when it comes to an “adequate sleep rate”, while Arkansas gets the lowest.
If you’d like to take a deeper look at the methodology and results, check out the original article here.