Arizona ranks 15th in nation in state well-being, fifth in social aspects

PHOENIX — A new national survey showed that Arizona ranked 15th in the nation in terms of overall well-being in 2017.

Despite the relatively high overall ranking, the score actually decreased from 2016, when Arizona ranked seventh. There were 21 states in total whose well-being score declined from the previous year.

The report was a collaboration between Gallup, Sharecare and the Well-Being Index that looked at different attributes for each state to rank how residents felt about their experience in the state.

It included a random sample of over 160,000 adults and decided which states excelled and lagged in five elements: purpose, social ranking, financial, community and physical.

The state ranked fifth in the nation in the social ranking which examined the supportive relationships and love in your life.

Arizona’s lowest ranking was financial, which asked respondents about their economic life. The state ranked 34th in the country.

National trends showed that physical health, which looks at exercise and smoking rates, has improved over the past 10 years. While people suffering from mental health problems, such as depression, increased.

The report offered employers and community leaders advice for the best practices that would improve the well-being of employees and residents.

Some of these included strong leadership in the workplace and investment in active living like bike paths or public transit.