Hawaii, an island surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, ranks as the number one state where residents say they experience little stress. West Virginia, landlocked in the Appalachian region, ranks as the number one state where residents experience the most stress, according to a Gallup survey.
More than 350,000 daily telephone surveys were carried out from January through December 2012 as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Residents were asked if they experienced feeling stress the day before the interview.
Nearly half of the participants, 40.6 percent, reported feeling stressed the day before the survey, according to the Gallup survey report.
Hawaii has ranked in the top five states with little stress since 2008.
Top Five Least Stressed States
1. Hawaii
2. Louisiana
3. Mississippi
4. Iowa
5. Wyoming
West Virginia, Kentucky, and Utah, have each ranked within the top five most stressed states for the past five years, according to the Gallup survey report.
Top Five Most Stressed States
1. West Virginia
2. Rhode Island
3. Kentucky
4. Utah
5. Massachusetts
In addition to being asked if they experienced stress, the interviewees were also asked if they experienced enjoyment the day before the survey.
Gallup found residents from Hawaii and Wyoming, two of the top least stressed states, also experienced the most enjoyment the day before. Meanwhile, West Virginia and Rhode Island, two of the top five most stressed states, also experienced the least enjoyment the day before.
Top Five States that Experienced the Most Enjoyment
1. Hawaii
2. Wyoming
3. Utah
4. North Dakota
5. Idaho
Top Five States that Experienced the Least Enjoyment
1. Rhode Island
2. Kentucky
3. New Jersey
4. New York
5. West Virginia
See how your state ranked here.
