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 South Dakota compare to the rest of the country?

South Dakota's trend in satisfaction with our current lives has been worsening less than the US. Compared to other states, South Dakota has also increased in state ranking by two or more places. Therefore, we categorize South Dakota's comparison to the US as positive. In the most recent year, South Dakota ranked first (out of 51). In the same year, 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 South Dakota compare to the rest of the country?

Unfortunately, South Dakota'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, South Dakota ranked 18 (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.