Illinois Ranks 37th Out of 50 States for Well-Being: Study

When it comes to overall well-being, residents of Hawaii have it made in the shade (or sunshine, as the case may be), while people in the Land of Lincoln aren't doing quite as well, according to the Gallup-Healthways State of American Well-Being study. Maybe it's no coincidence that Illinois also ranked among the 10 worst in terms of taxes last year.

Using self-reported data from residents, the study ranked Illinois as 37th out of 50 states and "examines well-being across the nation, including how well-being varies by state and which states lead and lag across the five elements of well-being." Those five elements are:

• Purpose: liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals
• Social: having supportive relationships and love in your life
• Financial: managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security
• Community: liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community
• Physical: having good health and enough energy to get things done daily

Hawaii, Alaska and South Dakota were the top three states in 2016, while Illinois fell in the fourth quintile, or fourth out of five "tiers" of well-being in the U.S.

"Well-being in the U.S. continues to exhibit regional patterns with the Northern Plains, Mountain West and some Atlantic states generally reporting higher levels, while states in the South and Midwest consistently lag in key elements," the study notes. "The non-contiguous states, Hawaii and Alaska, have historically recorded high well-being, while West Virginia and Kentucky have recorded the lowest well-being in the nation for the past eight years in a row."

Illinois had an overall well-being score of 61.1, compared with Hawaii's 65.2. The state's rankings were as follows:

• Purpose: 36
• Social: 26
• Financial: 28
• Community: 46
• Physical: 24

Nationwide, people are reporting positive trends when it comes to well-being.

"In 2016, Americans’ life evaluation reached its highest point since 2008, when Gallup and Healthways began measurement. Now 55.4% of American adults are 'thriving' compared to 48.9% in 2008," the study notes. Other positive trends include a historically low smoking rate of 18 percent (down from 21.1 percent in 2008), an all-time high rate of people reporting exercising 30 minutes or more three or more days per week, and the greatest number of Americans covered by health insurance.

Some not-so-great trends? Chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and depression are at their highest point since 2008, the study said.

View the full state-by-state well-being rankings here.