On Apr 25, 2011, at 10:31 AM, Mike Palij wrote: > 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=13115.d3952b85dfe9e8b3b9c453532beb7208&n=T&l=tips&o=10192 > or send a blank email to > leave-10192-13115.d3952b85dfe9e8b3b9c453532beb7...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
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