Louisiana Named Most Stressed State in America

Who would have thunk it -- Louisiana has been named the most stressed in all of these United States.

This can't be right? We're such easy-going, laid-back people.

Apparently though, we live with a bit too much stress, according to findings from a recent report by WalletHub.

The methodology

The report looked at 40 stress indicators in all 50 states -- everything from work and family to money and health-related factors to see where people face more or less stress.

WalletHub used national data, including ShareCare’s community well-being index, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to compile its rankings.

The top and bottom

Once all the stats were compiled, here are the top 10 most stressed states:

• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Arkansas
• West Virginia
• Alabama
• Kentucky
• Oklahoma
• Texas

On the flip side, here are the top 10 least stressed states:

• Minnesota
• South Dakota
• Utah
• New Hampshire
• Iowa
• Idaho
• North Dakota
• Delaware
• Nebraska
• Hawaii

What areas did Louisiana perform badly?

When you finish at the bottom of a list, unfortunately, you're hitting high marks in all the wrong places.

In the analysis, researchers pointed to Louisiana's high crime and property crime rates along with the third-highest divorce and separation rates in the country.

Financial conditions in Louisiana also contributed to our people's stress levels. Louisiana residents have the second-lowest poverty rate in the country, and residents have the second-lowest median credit score, at just 675.

Low incomes and low credit scores can make it difficult for residents to get credit, purchase homes and vehicles, and simply improve their economic status.

How do we live "less stressed?"

“There are plenty of small ways for people to manage stress, from staying active and participating in hobbies to taking vacations from work and getting help from a mental health professional,” says Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst.

“What many people don’t realize, though, is that changing location can also be a big stress reducer. For example, states that have lower crime rates, better health care and better economies tend to have much less stressed residents.”