More from the article ...

... Stress is not straightforward to define, and the survey takes a transactional approach. Generlly, stress can be considered as a state of worry or mental tension caused by difficult situations, and it is a natural human response to challenges and threats.

This is in the form of new data from Topture, which attempts to ranks all 50 U.S. states by stress levels using 31 key metrics. The findings show wide differences in how U.S. citizens experience and manage stress based on where they live.

To determine the most and least stressed states in the U.S., the firm compared all 50 states across five key dimensions: 1) Work Stress, 2) Financial Stress, 3) Family Stress, 4) Health & Safety Stress, and 5) Work-Life Balance. The sample considers only the state level data in each case and excludes specific cities within states.

Next, Topture evaluated the five dimensions using 31 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the lowest levels of stress.

Finally, the analysis determined each state's weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. ...

Results are interesting.

... The top ten least stressed states are: ...

@#3 ... I've been to 3 of the top 10 ...

I live in the #6 least-stressed state.

@#5 ... Not my image of that state. ...

Yeah, New Jersey has an identity issue.

It is nicknamed the "Garden State" because of the proliferation of farms in the state. It's not a major farming state, by any means. But for the population, it seems to hold its own.

And,in the summer, Jersey tomatoes. I know from experience over the decades, there is nothing like 'em.

But New Jersey seems to make the headlines more for it's cities than anything else about the state.

@#8 ... Might have had something to do with ...

Oh, there are some many reasons.

imo, most are self-inflected.

But Jersey tomatoes.

Major kudos to the New Jersey farmers.

Ten years ago or so, there was a local person who brought Jersey tomatoes into this town, and sold them out of their garage during the summer.

At times it was difficult to get into that driveway ...

But the effort to get those tomatoes was worth the wait to get into that driveway.

Jersey tomatoes. Ain't nothing like 'em.

@#10 ... You will get arguments from San Marzano and environs ...

Possibly.

But until I can buy those plum tomatoes locally, and at their peak flavor, I reiterate my comments.

:)

Back to the topic at hand, and more from the article ...

... In contrast, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Nevada were the most stressed states overall. Each of these states is represented by Republican politicians. ...

@#12 ... In contrast, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Nevada were the most stressed states overall. ...

That begs the question ...

Why do the people of those states seem to be so stressed?