If you want to improve your mood, consider moving east. A new study shows that the majority of the happiest Americans live in the central or eastern parts of the country.
NowPatient did an analysis of all fifty states to find out where Americans were happiest and found that people in South Dakota have the happiest mood.
In this condition, only 24 percent of adults report suffering from an anxiety disorder or a depressive disorder.
The online pharmaceutical company said South Dakota is one of the friendliest states and residents spend a lot of time outside enjoying nature, which improves mood.
The state’s good mood may also be due to the fact that a large majority of residents say they are very physically active (75 percent) and get the recommended hours of sleep (72 percent). Life expectancy in South Dakota is also slightly above average at 76.7 years.
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At the bottom of the list is West Virginia, where 40 percent of adults report suffering from an anxiety or depression disorder
After South Dakota, residents of South Carolina, Delaware and Wisconsin also reported good mood.
In South Carolina, 25 percent of people reported suffering from an anxiety or depression disorder. In Delaware and Wisconsin, the number is 26.3 percent.
In South Carolina, residents enjoy warm weather, beaches, and a vibrant cultural scene. Delaware is considered one of the best places to retire, with great weather and plenty of beautiful outdoor spaces. According to NowPatient, Wisconsin also has great open spaces to explore and the cost of living is lower than the US average.
About three-quarters of residents in all four major states say they are physically active, and about two-thirds say they get enough sleep.
And all but one of the four largest states, South Carolina, has a longer life expectancy than the American average.
At the bottom of the list is West Virginia, where 40 percent of adults report suffering from an anxiety or depression disorder. In Louisiana, that number is 39 percent and in Oklahoma and Alaska it is 38 percent.
The happiest states seem to be those where residents enjoy warm weather, get plenty of exercise, and are friendly with their neighbors
This is not the first time that West Virginia has been at the bottom of the list of happiest states.
Previous research has found that high unemployment, violent crime, limited access to exercise and remote youth all contribute to the coal mining state’s lack of happiness.
And previous research has shown that the Mountaineer State also has the highest rates of depression in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 27.5 percent of West Virginia residents are depressed.
The CDC study found that rates of depression were higher among women, younger adults, and adults with lower levels of education.
24 percent of women, compared to just 13 percent of men, said they had suffered from depression.
Social factors may be responsible for the gloomy mood in West Virginia.
According to the CDC study, adults in Appalachia tend to have lower incomes, higher poverty rates, and lower levels of education, all of which can negatively impact health and well-being.
Researchers in the NowPatient analysis used data from hospitals, Google searches, the CDC and population surveys to determine each state’s ranking.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
