Study reveals Oklahomans stress crisis hits alarming levels alongside most affected states
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - A CDC study has revealed Oklahomans are dealing with frequent mental and physical stress ranking in the top ten for the most stressed state.
According to Onyx Behavioral Health a mental health facility, research study shows Oklahoma coming out sixth as the most stressed state.
- Oklahoma is the sixth-most stressed state, based on rates of frequent mental and physical stress
- West Virginia is named the most stressed state, with an average stress level of 19.65%
- Meanwhile, Hawaii is named the least stressed state, with an average stress level of 10.50%
The study conducted by mental health facility Onyx Behavioral Health explored data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to see which states had the highest rates of people reporting stress.
Oklahoma takes sixth on the list, with 18.10% of adults reporting mental distress across more than half of the last 30 days in the study and 14.20% reporting the same for physical distress, which comes out to an average of 16.15%
The study found that West Virginia had the highest mental and physical distress rate, making it the most stressed state. The data reports that 21.10% of citizens suffer from frequent mental distress, and 18.20% of citizens suffer from frequent physical distress. Combining these statistics, it comes out at an average of 19.65%, the highest of any US state.
Arkansas comes in second place, with the state coming in with an average percentage of 18.95% for physical and mental distress. Coming in third place is Tennessee, with the state seeing 20.30% of citizens suffer from frequent mental distress in the study. Louisiana comes in fourth place on the list. In the southeastern state, 20.10% of citizens reported suffering from frequent mental distress, and 14.90% reported suffering from frequent physical distress, which is an average of 17.50%.
Rounding out the top five is Alabama, with 18.10% of citizens reporting frequent mental distress and 14.20% reporting frequent physical distress.
| Rank | State | Percentage of adults reporting mental distress more than half of the last 30 days | Percentage of adults reporting physical distress more than half of the last 30 days | Average |
| 1 | West Virginia | 21.10% | 18.20% | 19.65% |
| 2 | Arkansas | 20.40% | 17.50% | 18.95% |
| 3 | Tennessee | 20.30% | 15.50% | 17.90% |
| 4 | Louisiana | 20.10% | 14.90% | 17.50% |
| 5 | Alabama | 18.10% | 14.20% | 16.15% |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 18.10% | 14.20% | 16.15% |
| 7 | Ohio | 18.30% | 13.90% | 16.10% |
| 8 | Kentucky | 16.10% | 15.60% | 15.85% |
| 9 | Missouri | 17.30% | 14.10% | 15.70% |
| 10 | Arizona | 16.80% | 13.40% | 15.10% |
Methodology: Data on the percentage of adults reporting frequent mental distress and frequent physical distress in each state was combined to get an average, which is how states were ranked on the list
Using the same methodology Onyx Behavioral Health says, Hawaii is the ‘least stressed’ of any state, with just 11.50% of citizens reporting frequent mental distress and 9.50% reporting suffering from frequent physical distress, averaging out at 10.50%.
The US average was found to be a percentage of 15.90% of Americans reporting frequent mental distress and 12.40% reporting frequent physical distress, which is an average of 14.15%, according to Onyx Behavioral Health.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from Onyx Behavioral Health said:
“An interesting thing to note is that the newest 2022 data shows an increase on average across the US in mental and physical distress, with the order of the states on the list also shuffling around. While there may not be an exact reason for this, factors may include a rising cost of living through inflation, and tensions increasing around the world, and it will be interesting to see if this increasing trend continues in further editions of this data.”