Overall well-being in the U.S. has been in a downward trend the last couple of years, and residents in some states are feeling especially weighed down, according to the Gallup polling company.
The company released its 11th annual well-being report last week, which was based on surveys of U.S. state residents throughout 2018.
The report highlighted which state were in the top 10 for the overall well-being expressed by their residents, but it also turned the spotlight on states that were at the bottome of the list.
Gallup also noted that the nation has dropped a bit in overall well-being the past couple of years, shedding 0.9 during that time for a score of 61.2 out of 100 in 2018.
"While the declines were not as acute as in 2017, 2018 saw a continuation of some of the same narratives that were used to describe 2017's drop, including erosion in social and career well-being," Gallup said. "Not all elements, however, suffered from these declines. Physical well-being improved in 2018, while financial and community wellbeing were unchanged."
The final scores, according to Gallup, were based on how residents rate their states in the following categories:
• Career: Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals.
• Social: Having supportive relationships and love in your life.
• Financial: Managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security.
• Community: Liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community.
• Physical: Having good health and enough energy to get things done daily.
In descending order, these were the states at the bottom of the list:
10. Indiana
The state's worst score was in the physical well-being category, where it ranked in at 44. Its best category was financial, where it was ranked 30.
9. Illinois
The community category was the worst for this state, where it ranked at 46. Illinois, however, had a respectable ranking of 29 in the physical well-being category.
8. Louisiana
Louisiana was one of the worst in the nation in community well-being, ranking in at 48. But it was one of the top states for social well-being, ranking at 12.
7. Alabama
Physical well-being was ranked at 48, but the state's residents fell good about their career and community well-being, with ranks of 18 and 17, respectively.
6. Oklahoma
The state was a bottom-tier performer in all categories, with the best being careers, at 37, and the worst being financial well-being, at 46.
5. Tennessee
Tennessee's best rank was 30 for community well-being. But it finished at 44 or below in all others.
4. Mississippi
The state ranked in at a respectable 27 for career well-being, but it was in the bottom 10 in all other categories.
3. Kentucky
The state was next to last in the nation in physical well-being. Its best category was community well-being, where it finished at 32.
2. Arkansas
The state was last in the nation in social and financial well-being.
1. West Virginia
The state was last in the nation in the career, community and physical categories, as well as 49 in social and 48 in financial.
The full report can be viewed here.
