Search Here

Stress is a prevalent issue that can negatively affect a person's mental and physical health. Common external factors that trigger stress are job demands, deadlines and financial instability, while some internal factors include perfectionism, self-doubt and unrealistic expectations.

According to a study conducted by wellness brand Komowa, certain states in America exhibit higher levels of stress compared to others. Komowa analyzed 16 key indicators of stress, including factors such as hours worked, credit card debt, divorce rates and commute times, grouping them into categories like money stress, work stress, health stress and family stress. The company used data from reputable sources like the CDC, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics for this analysis.

US States with the most and least stressed citizens

Surprisingly, populous states like New York and California did not feature in the top 10 most stressed states. Instead, Tennessee claimed the top spot, with factors like high levels of depression prevalence at 24.4 percent and a significant portion of residents reporting poor physical health for over 14 days a month contributing to its ranking. Tennesseeans also worked longer hours than the national average and faced challenges related to income and remote work opportunities.

Following closely behind Tennessee were Alabama and Oklahoma, with Alabama ranking second primarily due to elevated levels of work and health-related stress, including longer work hours, lower income levels and higher divorce rates. Meanwhile, Oklahoma had health stress being a significant concern linked to inadequate healthcare coverage and a notable prevalence of depression among its residents. Ranking fourth to tenth are Louisiana, Nevada, South Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, West Virginia and Indiana.

North Dakota was ranked the least stressed followed by Utah, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. The results were close to a study from late 2023 where Minnesotans were recognized as the least stressed in the U.S.