In a research study that will soon be published, researchers found a strong positive correlation between the "sense of well-being" in a particular location (e.g., a state in the U.S.) and that location's suicide rate. The Associated Press (AP) has the clearest statement about this research; see: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gAQVml1MxpnwiH9Q0SvZhtu2UBVg?docId=23fc8286d6bf4c5583227127269265ec
Quoting from the AP article: |The surprising result: The happiest places sometimes also have |the highest suicide rates. | |"Discontented people in a happy place may feel particularly |harshly treated by life," suggested Andrew Oswald of the |University of Warwick in England. | |Or, put another way by co-author Stephen Wu of Hamilton |College in Clinton, N.Y., those surrounded by unhappy people |may not feel so bad for themselves. | |But Wu urged caution in drawing conclusions, saying: "I don't think |that means if you are unhappy you should be around others who |are unhappy." | |Their study ranked Utah as the No. 1 state for residents' sense of |well-being, but it also scored a high No. 9 in suicide rate. By contrast |New York State ranked a low 45th in well-being, but an even lower |50th in suicides. I can see a whole new advertising campaign for living in NY: Live Miserably or Die! Or maybe not. The NY Time also has a blog article on the study; see: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/happiest-places-post-highest-suicide-rates/?src=mv The author, Tara Parker-Pope observes: |The researchers noted that there were exceptions and that every |state did not match the trend. For instance, people in New Hampshire |ranked 28th in life satisfaction but had the highest suicide rate, |after adjusting for variables. Meanwhile, people in Alabama |were relatively happy, with the ninth highest life satisfaction score, |and also had among the lowest suicide rates, ranking 45th. Hmmm, if you're happy living in Alabama, then you're unlikely to commit suicide. And if you're miserable living in New York, then you're unlikely to commit suicide. So, here's a "tiger or the lady" type of choice: which would you prefer: To be happy in Alabama or miserable in New York? -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=10192 or send a blank email to leave-10192-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
