New Study Names Louisiana #1 Most Stressed State

(KMDL-FM) - Did you know that April is "Stress Awareness Month?" If not, now you are—just don’t stress about it...until you find out how bad things are in Louisiana.

Louisiana Ranked Most Stressed State in New Study

The personal finance company WalletHub released its report on 2026's Most & Least Stressed States and the results aren’t good for the Bayou State. Louisiana ranked as the most stressed in the United States.

How WalletHub Measured Stress Across States

First, how was the list compiled? WalletHub compared all 50 states across 40 key metrics. The data set ranges from average hours worked per week to the personal bankruptcy rate to the share of adults getting adequate sleep.

Key Stress Factors Impacting Louisiana Residents

Here are some of those key metrics and how Louisiana ranked in each.

Stress Levels in Louisiana (1 = Most Stressed, 25 = Average):

2nd - Avg. Hours Worked per Week
4th - Share of Adults Getting Adequate Sleep
3rd - % of Adults in Fair/Poor Health
1st - Job Security
2nd - Median Credit Score
29th - Housing Affordability
1st - % of Population Living in Poverty
3rd - Divorce Rate
4th - Crime Rate per Capita
5th - Psychologists per Capita

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Source: WalletHub

Why Louisiana Ranks So High for Stress

Louisiana ranks as the most stressed in part because it has the highest poverty rate. Around 16% of residents haven't seen a doctor in the past year due to the cost.

Additionally, Louisiana ranks among the 10 worst states for both the share of adults reporting poor mental health and the share of adults diagnosed with depression. Louisianans may also find it difficult to find someone to address mental health issues, as Louisiana has fewer psychologists per capita than most states.

Expert Tips for Managing Stress

For those looking to cope with stress, a WalletHub expert has advice.

"There are plenty of small ways for people to manage stress, from staying active and participating in hobbies to taking vacations from work and getting help from a mental health professional," said Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst. "What many people don’t realize, though, is that changing location can also be a big stress reducer. For example, states that have lower crime rates, better health care and better economies tend to have much less stressed residents.”