Which US States Are Most and Least Stressed? Map Reveals People's Levels of Distress

While the US is one of the world's wealthiest countries, it is also one of the most stressed countries, as revealed in the recent Gallup polls.

Which US States Are Most and Least Stressed?

Based on a 2022 poll done by the American Psychological Association, over a quarter of US adults reportedly feel too stressed to function for most days.

Chronically high stress levels can negatively affect both physical and mental well-being. It could have negative repercussions, such as depression, anxiety, asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Stress may also lead to obesity, chronic fatigue, immune system disorders, and digestive problems. Given this, stress is clearly a public health concern.

To learn more about who has a higher risk, researchers from Komowa Wellness, a wellness brand, compared all 50 US states for 16 key stress indicators. These indicators include, commute times, hours worked, credit card debt, utility costs, income, divorce rates, health care costs, child care costs, mental health, and physical health.

The data was gathered from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Census Bureau, the Energy Information Administration, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Energy.gov.

After the researchers individually scored the states based on the 16 key stress indicators, they were able to rank the states according to stress level.

Based on their analysis, the most stressed states are Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Nevada. On the contrary, the least stressed states are North Dakota, Utah, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

Stress Explained

Stress is actually a response of the body to a perceived threat. It results from hormones and chemicals that surge across the body. While stress can aid a person in responding to an issue or problem, excessive levels could harm one's health.

Cortisol, which is the primary stress hormone, plays a crucial role in stressful situations. Its functions aid in effective dealing amidst a high-stress situation.

However, when cortisol levels remain elevated for prolonged periods, it could negatively affect one's health. Elevated and prolonged cortisol could contribute to high blood pressure, weight gain, lack of energy, sleep problems, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, a weakened immune system, and brain fog.

When it comes to stress management, the goal is not to completely eliminate the stress. Rather, the goal is to manage and handle it effectively.

For this to be achieved, one must first identify certain stressors or triggers and note which ones can be avoided. For stressors that cannot be avoided, one must look for ways to cope.

Some basic ways to get started with stress management include regular exercise, adapting a healthy diet, aiming for 7-8 hours of nightly sleep, staying socially connected, making time for self-care, and adapting meditation techniques.

As time passes, stress management could help reduce one's risk for stress-related conditions. However, if one finds it hard to manage stress or if the stress comes with depression or anxiety, consulting a doctor is recommended. Such conditions can be managed with proper treatment and help.

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