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Location, location, location: your mood may be affected by where you live
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Hawaii makes people happy
A U.S. government report suggests that where you live makes a difference in your mood and overall mental health. People in certain areas of the country had more frequent mental distress-14 or more days of emotional discomfort or stress during the previous month was considered frequent. Three days of mental distress was considered average by the researchers.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) conducted research with 2.4 million people. They were called randomly during two different telephone interviews.
People in the Appalachian and Mississippi valley reported greater levels of "frequent mental distress." Kentucky had the highest rates, with an average of 14.4 days of significant emotional difficulty, according to the report. Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin had the lowest prevalence, at below 8 percent.
Not surprisingly, Hawaii residents were the least likely to report periods of mental distress.
According to the study author, Matthew Zack, in general, the people with the highest incomes and college degrees experience the least emotional distress. Additionally, locations with less distress may have above average support structures (as Hawaii does) like subsidized medical care and job retraining or extended families.
"There may be different influences in different communities," Zack said. "Once we find out what the most important ones are, we may be able to develop programs to reduce the levels of mental distress."
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