ATLANTA, May 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- During a year
characterized by uncertainty, unrest, and suffering, Massachusetts emerged as the healthiest state
in the nation in 2020, according to a report published today by
digital health company Sharecare in partnership with the
Boston University School of Public
Health (BUSPH). The thirteenth generation of Sharecare's
Community Well-Being Index state rankings, this new research
reveals that community well-being improved in certain respects in
2020, but significant differences remain across states based on
factors such as individual life experiences, availability of key
community resources, and more.
Built on more than a decade of measurement and over 3 million
surveys completed to-date, the nationally representative dataset
comprising Sharecare's Community Well-Being Index is the most
comprehensive assessment of community health in the country. The
2020 research assessed the well-being of more than 450,000
respondents spanning all 50 states across a range of individual
health risk factors – their physical health, community and social
bonds, ability to manage their finances to achieve their goals, and
strength of purpose in daily life – and analyzed 600 other data
elements for the social determinants of health most associated with
community health outcomes – healthcare access, food access,
resource access, housing and transportation, and economic
security.
Massachusetts, Mississippi bookend state rankings
For the first time, Massachusetts ranked No. 1 in the community
well-being rankings, followed by Hawaii, a veteran top contender. For the
second year in a row, Mississippi
took the last position in the rankings, joined by six other
Southern states in the bottom 10.
Massachusetts can attribute its
top ranking to strong scores across both social determinants of
health and individual health risk factors. The state ranked among
the top 10 for eight out of 10 well-being domains -- financial
well-being (#5), social well-being (#7), purpose well-being (#6),
physical well-being (#5), community well-being (#6), housing and
transportation (#2), healthcare access (#1), and food access
(#7).
Meanwhile, Mississippi ranked
among the bottom-performing states on all measures of well-being
except resource access (#17).
Community Well-Being by State, 2020
Top 10 States
1. Massachusetts
2. Hawaii
3. New
Jersey
4. Maryland
5. New York
6. California
7. Connecticut
8. Washington
9. Colorado
10. Utah
Bottom 10 States
41. Indiana
42. Tennessee
43. Louisiana
44. Alabama
45. Oklahoma
46. Kentucky
47. West Virginia
48. New Mexico
49. Arkansas
50. Mississippi
Best and worst ranked states on Community Well-Being Index
closely correlate with 2020 U.S. presidential election
results
During a turbulent year that saw political fault lines drive
apart the country over economic, social, and public health issues,
nine of the top 10 states for community well-being were won by
President Joe Biden in the November
presidential election, while nine of the bottom 10 states went to
former President Donald Trump.
The top nine states – Massachusetts, Hawaii, New
Jersey, Maryland,
New York, California, Connecticut, Washington, and Colorado – all have populations with generally
lower-than-average individual health risk factors and
better-than-average social determinants of health. Unlike their
bottom-ranked peers, most residents of these states say they enjoy
supportive relationships and love in their life; have the tools to
manage their economic life to increase financial security and
reduce stress, regardless of income; and have access to
high-quality healthcare and jobs, on top of their better physical
health.
Community Well-Being and US Presidential Election Results by
State, 2020
Top 10 States
1. Massachusetts, Biden
2. Hawaii,
Biden
3. New Jersey,
Biden
4. Maryland,
Biden
5. New York,
Biden
6. California,
Biden
7. Connecticut,
Biden
8. Washington,
Biden
9. Colorado,
Biden
10. Utah, Trump
Bottom 10 States
41. Indiana, Trump
42. Tennessee, Trump
43. Louisiana, Trump
44. Alabama, Trump
45. Oklahoma, Trump
46. Kentucky, Trump
47. West Virginia, Trump
48. New Mexico, Biden
49. Arkansas, Trump
50. Mississippi, Trump
Physical and social well-being increase, financial well-being
decreases
Between 2019 and 2020, community well-being across the U.S.
remained essentially unchanged, increasing from a score of 60.2 to
60.5, as measured on a scale ranging from 0 (lowest possible
well-being) to 100 (highest possible well-being).
Overall community well-being held steady thanks to resilience in
key individual health risk factors. Despite including measures of
mental health, physical well-being significantly increased
over the course of 2020. Positive trends in the strength of
Americans' personal relationships, as measured by social
well-being, and other areas of individual health also shielded
community well-being.
Notably, financial well-being decreased amid the economic
challenges brought on by the pandemic.
"From coronavirus to civic unrest and the fight against systemic
racism, 2020 tested our resolve, not only as a country but also as
individuals," said Elizabeth Colyer,
senior vice president and head of the Community Well-Being Index at
Sharecare. "Despite differing trends noted across states and
regions, the latest Index results broadly demonstrate the
resilience with which Americans responded to adversity: While
financial well-being declined, community well-being held steady
with improvements in areas such as physical and social well-being,
demonstrating the positive influence that non-physical factors can
have on individuals' health, including the critical impact that
outlook and leadership have on our subjective evaluation of health
and well-being."
"This first analysis of 2020 data from Sharecare's Community
Well-Being Index paints an initial picture of the well-being
landscape amid one of the most difficult years in recent memory,"
said Dr. Kimberly Dukes, executive
director of BUSPH's Biostatistics & Epidemiology Data Analytics
Center. "Future investigations will advance our understanding of
the distribution of community well-being by uncovering
statistically significant trends in counties and metropolitan
statistical areas."
To arrive at these results, Sharecare and BUSPH conducted web
and mail surveys with 453,705 U.S. residents aged 18 and older
across 2020 and analyzed social determinant of health data from
more than 600 sources. Results are nationally representative. To
read the full report and to learn about the project's methodology,
visit https://wellbeingindex.sharecare.com/reports/.
Later this summer, Sharecare and BUSPH will release 2020
community well-being figures from metropolitan statistical areas
and counties as well as a special analysis of community well-being
outcomes for BIPOC communities.
About Sharecare
Sharecare is the leading digital
health company that helps people – no matter where they are in
their health journey – unify and manage all their health in one
place. Our comprehensive and data-driven virtual health platform is
designed to help people, providers, employers, health plans,
government organizations, and communities optimize individual and
population-wide well-being by driving positive behavior change.
Driven by our philosophy that we are all together better, at
Sharecare, we are committed to supporting each individual through
the lens of their personal health and making high-quality care more
accessible and affordable for everyone. To learn more, visit
www.sharecare.com.
About the Boston University School of
Public Health
Founded in 1976, the Boston University School of Public Health is one of
the top five ranked private schools of public health in the world.
It offers master's- and doctoral-level education in public health.
The faculty in six departments conduct policy-changing public
health research around the world, with the mission of improving the
health of populations—especially the disadvantaged, underserved,
and vulnerable—locally and globally.
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