Life Satisfaction

Why did we include this measure?

Perhaps more than any other measure, this one tells us how Americans feel about their own current state of affairs. This measure is about how we feel about our own lives. In this state, we report the "modeled" estimates, which use statistical patterns that arise across subgroups and states to adjust each state's estimate. This method is motivated by the small sample sizes in this state.

How does Kentucky compare to the rest of the country?

Kentucky's trend in satisfaction with our current lives has been worsening more than the US. Compared to other states, Kentucky has also decreased in state ranking by two or more places. Therefore, we categorize Kentucky's comparison to the US as negative. In the most recent year, Kentucky ranked 48 (out of 51). In the same year, South Dakota ranked first, and Arizona ranked last.

Why did we include this measure?

Humans are naturally social. Our sense of happiness, purpose, and security depends heavily on our friends and family members. When life gets difficult, we need people we can count on to lift us back up.

How does Kentucky compare to the rest of the country?

Unfortunately, Kentucky's trend in social isolation does not have enough data points to compare it to the rest of the country. In the most recent year, Kentucky ranked 29 (out of 51). In the same year, Washington DC ranked first, and Nevada ranked last.

Additional Information.

Current life satisfaction and social isolation may be partially intertwined: people may be less satisfied with their current lives because they are more socially isolated, and they are more isolated because they have a more negative outlook that pushes them away from friends and family. The increased pressure we place on ourselves to excel in life could explain both patterns: raising expectations about some areas of our lives and leading us to put less effort into our relationships.