One of the wealthiest countries in the world is also one of the most stressed. California and Nueva York are not in the top ten. Alaska is, and de debts are the key
The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and yet, It is also one of the most stressed. More than a quarter of U.S. adults say that most days, they are so stressed out it’s hard to function, according to the “Stress in America” poll.
All humans experience stress. In fact, it’s a natural defense mechanism that has been around for a long time. But once stress reaches a chronic level it can cause health problems like insomnia, anxiety, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The data suggests the long-term stress sustained since the COVID-19 pandemic began has had a significant impact on well-being, evidenced by an increase in chronic illnesses—especially among those between the ages of 35 and 44, which increased from 48% reported in 2019 to 58% in 2023. Adults ages 35 to 44 also experienced the highest increase in mental American Psychological Association’s health diagnoses—from 31% reported in 2019 to 45% in 2023—though adults ages 18 to 34 still reported the highest rate of mental illnesses at 50% in 2023”, says American Psychological Association’s (APA)
With this base, Wellness brand Komowa created a ranking of the most and least stressed states in America. The company compared U.S. states based on 16 key indicators of stress including hours worked, credit card debt, divorce rates, commute times and more.
Key indicators were grouped by similarities and boiled down to four main categories: money, family, work and health. To create the ranking, Komowa used data from the CDC, U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and more.
New York and California didn’t make the top 10 on the list. In fact, New York landed the 24th spot and California came in at No. 25.
The state with the most stressed residents in America is, surprisingly, Tennessee, coming in third place for the highest level of depression prevalence (24.4%).
In Tennesse, 15.5% of residents also said “their physical health isn’t good for more than 14 days a month.”
Residents of Tennessee also work more than the average American. The state came in at No. 3 for most hours worked with an average of 42.3 hours a week with a low yearly income.
Tennesse es followed by:
Alabama
Oklahoma
Louisiana
Nevada
South Carolina
Georgia
Arizona
West Virginia
Indiana
Many of this States shows the highest credit card debt and the longest commute time. Alaska earned the top spot for the highest credit card debt with an average of $7,338,
Residents of Louisiana seem to work the most with an average of 44.3 hours a week and they don´t feel well paid.
Alabama ranked at No. 2, due to work stress and health stress. Residents of the Heart of Dixie worked more hours than most Americans, earned a lot less and had one of the highest divorce rates.
Coming in at No. 3 is Oklahoma with the top spot for health stress which can be directly linked to the percentage of residents without healthcare. The level of depression prevalence is high for residents of the state as well.