Why Alabama is reportedly one of the nation’s most stressed states

Alabama is the eighth most stressed state in the U.S., according to a new ranking from financial site WalletHub.

The site compared the 50 states across 40 indicators of stress, looking at everything from average hours worked per week to personal bankruptcy rates to the share of adults getting a good night’s sleep.

Stress from work, health, safety, family, and finances were taken into account, with some categories weighed more heavily than others. For example, stress from finances measured the percentage of adults who agreed that thinking about their personal finances makes them feel anxious.

According to the ranking, the most stressed-out state is New Mexico, followed by Nevada, Louisiana, West Virginia and Mississippi.

Why does New Mexico lead the list? According to WalletHub, it has the highest violent crime rates per capita and property crime rates per capita, as well as the highest separation and divorce rate in the country. In addition, New Mexico has the third-highest poverty rate in the country, and residents have one of the lowest median credit scores.

Alabama was one of six Deep South states to make the top 10, checking in at eighth.

Alabama earned a high ranking as it was in the top 20 in all categories, scoring 19th in work related stress, 15th at health and safety related stress, and 11th in family related stress.

But it came in third in money-related stress, which catapulted it into the top 10.

Alabama also came in third for fewest hours of sleep per night, and third for lowest credit scores. It has the second fewest psychologists per capita of any state, save neighboring Mississippi.

The least stressful state? Nebraska.