In this article, we take a look at the 5 Unhappiest States in the US. If you would like to see the complete list and read our discussion about the increasing unhappiness in the United States, you can go to 15 Unhappiest States in the US.
5. Kentucky
Happiness Score by WalletHub: 40.58
Kentucky, USA’s famous bluegrass state, has a population of over 4.52 million people and is the birthplace of KFC (NYSE: YUM). With over 115 KFC (NYSE: YUM) locations, Kentucky has a national adult obesity rate of 42% and a childhood obesity rate of 24%. Of course, KFC (NYSE: YUM) is not the only reason behind the growing obesity rates, but it does play its part. Currently, the famed fast food chain aims to add 1000 more locations in the US and introduce new menu items to boost sales.
See 20 States with the Highest Fast Food Consumption
Besides unhealthy eating habits, Kentucky’s population also comprises very few exercise enthusiasts. It comes as no surprise that the state ranked 50 on WalletHub’s exercise-enthusiasts measure. The state also has a depression rate of 27.6%.
Furthermore, with a poverty rate of 14.90%, and a score of 41 in the work environment category, Kentucky’s bar with these categories is set pretty low. The ever-increasing environmental issues, such as improper waste disposal, water pollution, and contamination, explain why Kentucky scored 26 in the community and environment category as well.
4. Arkansas
Happiness Score by WalletHub: 39.72
Arkansas is one of the unhappiest states in the US, with a total happiness score of only 39.72, and the highest rate of adult depression in the US. Arkansas has a population of over 3.67 million people but ranks pretty low on the emotional and well-being scale— mainly due to limited accessibility to healthy food, high poverty rates, and lack of public transportation. Arkansas is also one of the poorest states in the US, with 16.8% of people living below the poverty line.
Arkansas scored 42 out of 100 on the work environment scale and 18 overall on the community and environment category, which, when visualized, means an extremely poor natural environment and a moderately poor work environment. A 2022 study by KIDS Count shows that Arkansas was one of the worst states for child well-being, with over 23% of children facing food insecurity.
3. Tennessee
Happiness Score by WalletHub: 38.30
Tennessee is a southern state in America with a fast-growing population of over 7 million. Memphis, Tennessee, in particular, was ranked the 6th unhappiest city in America, in another study by WalletHub. This city is home to the main headquarters of FedEx (NYSE: FDX), a well-known logistics company. There are 13 FedEx (NYSE: FDX) locations in Memphis alone. While companies like FedEx (NYSE: FDX) offer $18.28 per hour to their employees, 13.3% of people in Tennessee live below the poverty line. The financial stress resulting from this is perhaps one of the reasons why Tennessee is also one of the states with the highest rate of adult depression, with 37.3% of the population dealing with some sort of mood disorder.
See 20 Most Depressed Cities in the US
Moreover, Tennessee had a score of 45 on the emotional and well-being scale. This could be because poor health outcomes, a high number of people dealing with chronic health conditions, and premature deaths are standard in Tennessee. On the work environment list, Tennessee ranked 38 out of 100. Some other social issues Tennessee faces are substance abuse, a high crime rate, and severe weather threats.
2. Louisiana
Happiness Score by WalletHub: 35.86
Louisiana boasts a population of 4.56 million people and is one of the unhappiest states in America today. Around 18.6% of the population lives below the poverty line, which is why it scored 49 out of 100 on the work-employment list. Safety is also an issue in this state, as it has the second-highest homicide rate in the US.
Louisiana scored 42 on the emotional and physical well-being list and 43 on community and environment, which means it is doing good in neither. 30.7% of the residents in the state feel unsafe as the crime rates continue to soar.
See 5 States with Lowest Average IQ and Well Being Scores
1. West Virginia
Happiness Score by WalletHub: 35.08
West Virginia, a state with a population of over 1.783 million, has a happiness score of only 35.08, which equals to an unhappiness score of about 65. One of the biggest reasons behind the growing unhappiness in the state is poor lifestyle choices.
In West Virginia, there are 5.3 fast-food restaurants per 10,000 and an obesity rate of 41.3%. Moreover, a recent study by BetSperts shows that West Virginians chose McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) as their favorite fast food restaurant of choice. In fact, the demand is so high that there are 90 McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) locations in West Virginia. The high levels of fat and added sugars in McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) food plays a massive role in bad mental health.
Other than that, 21% of adults in the state smoke, which contributes further to deteriorating mental health. The study by Wallethub also revealed that West Virginia has high rates of insomnia, very little amount of exercise enthusiasts, a poor community structure, and a worsening environment. It also scored 50 out of 100 in both work environment and emotional and physical well-being. West Virginia is also among the top 5 states with lowest life expectancy in the US (see 5 States with Lowest Life Expectancy).
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