Smile, Arizona: State sees increase in happy people, according to poll

PHOENIX – Now that face masks are no longer required in many places, you might have noticed a lot of folks smiling.

That could be because happiness is on the rise in Arizona, according to poll results released Tuesday.

OH Predictive Insights found that 70% of Arizonans consider themselves very or somewhat happy, a jump from 40% six months ago.

The shift can be attributed to a large block previously in the “neither happy nor unhappy” group moving into positive territory and is not surprising considering the the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. Or maybe it’s Phoenix Suns playoff fever.

The percentage of somewhat or very unhappy responses declined only from 17% to 15% in the last sixth months.

“Trends in this data tell a story of true American grit in Arizona, where even in times of dismay or simply a season of unhappiness, residents of the Grand Canyon State continue to fix their gaze on a hopeful future,” Mike Noble, OH Predictive Insights chief of research, said in a press release.

The Phoenix-based research firm conducted the general population poll of 1,000 Arizona adults 18 and older on May 3-5.

According to the results, the happiness levels are higher among the state’s men and older residents.

Happy men outpaced happy women 74% to 64%. In the age breakdown, 76% of people 55 and older were happy, while 63% of those younger were.

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