Are we happier in the West?
A new poll suggests Western states report a better sense of well-being, but neither prosperity not recession seem to be making most Americans happier.
A new Gallup study suggests that people in the Western United States have a much greater sense of well-being than other Americans. States that topped the feel-good list included Utah, Hawaii, and Wyoming, and strong results were also reported for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and California, among others. Well-being declines as you go east, with the lowest ratings in Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi, Ohio, Arkansas and Missouri. The well-being survey takes into account more than happiness, considering optimism, security, and health.
The research does suggest there is some correlation with affluence, but it's not exact. When looking at the well-being index by Congressional district, many of the wealthiest areas seem to be feeling pretty good, particularly in well-to-do cities and suburbs like Seattle and Bellevue, Portland, San Francisco, suburban Atlanta and the Silicon Valley. In Washington, the 8th and 1st Congressional Districts are doing the best. On the other hand, well-being isn't exactly correlated to economic performance. Some of the highest index scores are in states with high rates of unemployment (California, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina).
Gallup also has found that America's mental health scores are going down with the stock market, almost literally. USA Today reports that stress is up and that the most stressful days in 2008 were in the fourth quarter as the market struggled and Christmas sales tanked. They reported that people's moods literally dropped on days when the Dow was down. States with wide-open spaces and sunshine did better than the Rust Belt in terms of emotional health. The least happy groups: Latinos and the poor.
But even in good times, the nation's "happiness" overall has taken a drubbing since the 1950s. Growth and material prosperity have actually lowered our happiness scores. In his 2007 book, Deep Economy, Bill McKibben reports that despite a large and affluent middle class, "all that material progress — and all the billions of barrels of oil and millions of acres of trees that it took to create it — seems not to have moved the satisfaction meter an inch." For example, he writes, "In 1946, the United States was the happiest country among four advanced economies; thirty years later it was eight among eleven advanced countries. A decade after that it ranked tenth among 23 nations, many of them from the third world...." And social psychologist David Myers reports that:
Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are "very happy" has declined slightly, from 35 to 30 percent. We are twice as rich and no happier. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has more than doubled, and increasingly our teens and young adults are plagued by depression.
I have called this soaring wealth and shrinking spirit "the American paradox." More than ever, we at the end of the last century were finding ourselves with big houses and broken homes, high incomes and low morale, secured rights and diminished civility. We were excelling at making a living but too often failing at making a life. We celebrated our prosperity but yearned for purpose. We cherished our freedoms but longed for connection. In an age of plenty, we were feeling spiritual hunger.
These facts of life lead us to a startling conclusion: Our becoming better off materially has not made us better off psychologically.
It seems that some level of prosperity does relate to our well-being, and that the stress of recession and depression will take a toll on it, particularly among those who can least afford it. On the other hand, what is the secret of Utah, Wyoming and Hawaii? Is it really wide-open spaces and sunshine? Or does it have also to do with community, faith, and family values? Certainly one thing Utah, Wyoming and Hawaii share is a sense of separation from the rest of the county and all have a high percentage of Mormons, people girded with strong social networks and a practical approach to preparing for hard times.
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Comments:
Posted Sat, Mar 14, 1:09 p.m. inappropriate
We're not more prosperous. In 1970, one income supported the relative material existence that now requires two-incomes and high debt levels. The quality and craftsmanship of our material wealth--the assets backing our paper wealth--has also significantly declined.
Posted Mon, Mar 16, 12:37 a.m. inappropriate
In response to Gregory Wade:
With all due respect, I disagree with your comment. It is fallacious to equate the "relative material existence" of 1970 to that of today. Our material existence of today so surpasses that of 1970 it simply does not relate. For instance, while I admit our health care "system" sucks, you would not want to have had heart disease in 1970. My father's life was saved twice, first in the late 80's, and again recently, thanks to bypass surgery and a pig valve, procedures either unavailable or enormously risky just a decade earlier. I would say his happiness is a difficult thing to gauge, but I am certainly happier since the old man is still alive and active.
In response to the article:
I loved it! I am always quick to embrace statistics that suggest that owning more stuff brings less happiness, since I can't afford new stuff. When I spot one of those huge flat screen TV's through a condo window I can only hope they are missing the simple joy I have daily, while I am deprived of a life-sized basketball, or Angelina Jolie, seemingly tossed right into my living room in hi-def.
I disagree that a high divorce rate equals unhappiness. I think many people decades ago stayed married but were unhappy, as it was more accepted to have an affair than to divorce.
I also wince at the notion that America was a "happier place" back in the good 'ol '50's, ala Leave It To Beaver. This was just not so if you were black, female, gay, disabled, Asian, and so on. There was McCarthyism, and the polio vaccine came only in '55. I feel that to declare the 50's as the peak of the happy American experience negates the permanent inroads we began to accomplish during the enlightened social era of what we call the 60's, but which really refers to the the Summer of Love, and the release of St. Pepper, in 1967, and then of course crashes in 1972 when the Eagles released "Peaceful Easy Feeling."
-Steve Shay
Posted Mon, Mar 16, 10:44 a.m. inappropriate
One element not mentioned in the article that surely makes people less happy despite their greater material prosperity is the increasing intrusion of government (at all levels) into their lives (in all endeavors). Most interactions with government are compulsory, not voluntary, and they are usually negative. More laws, more regulations, more surveillance, more fees and taxes. That equals less freedom to exercise discretion and judgment, less ability to live your life as you see fit, and less capacity to excel in your vocation or avocation of choice. All this results in a sort of "caged animal" syndrome: Wherever you turn, someone in authority is demanding your compliance with their official vision of what constitutes the "perfected citizen." It is extremely stressful, and there is no escaping it.
Posted Mon, Mar 16, 2:43 p.m. inappropriate
I can only speak from experience of the 50's, I loved every minute of it as a dumb jock until the evidence of the bombs of Japan started to permeate my limited consciousness. As far as the Northwest being somewhat happier, I can only speak for what I see in Gig Harbor, it is a white 1950's consciousness with SUVs, soccer mom vans and lots of trees waiting to be sacrificed for malls.
Posted Fri, Mar 20, 1:08 a.m. inappropriate
The "strong social networks and a practical approach to preparing for hard times" certainly has something to offer in the way of emotional stress-reduction. Having those Deseret Thrift stores & food banks in place (& being able to avoid being hit by an avocado in the Islands) is a big Plus... as is the open space (or the "we're all in this together" Island reality). Those places in the Midwest- from Ohio to Mississippi- are all connected... by borders, by cultural ties (& cultural insulation!), by coal extraction/burning, by degraded landscapes & a sense of foreboding with regard to their regional problems. Why are people near an ocean more likely to have higher "well-being" scores? Maybe it's something I'll call the "Acres of Clams" syndrome.
Things like "running out of oil" and "gigantic/unnecessary Defense budgets" and loss of job opportunities that require physical activity (no- floor trading doesn't count) and huge outlays for health care- exacerbated by the fact that people are being kept alive longer, and running up big bills to do so- simply adds to the anxiety. People didn't used to have to worry much about their parents' quality of life when "the kids" were in their 60s. the last eight years of "be afraid!" etc- closing the Canadian border & carrying one's shoes to board an airplane, etc etc haven't helped at all. Believe me, all I feel is Mocked when I see the US Coast Guard riding herd- with armed rubber boats!- alongside the Vashon ferry run to West Seattle. (gimme a break!)
Hey- despite the mining, logging, overfishing, and pockets of overpopulation, the West still has visible resources... and 'breathing room'... and those count heavily in the "well-being" Department. That & potable tap water will continue to be my winning ticket... ^..^