Some Possible Reasons Rural Texans Are More Stressed
There is a common theme in American folklore. It is the age-old idea that people who live in the country are generally believed to be happier than urban dwellers. The idea centers around the belief that life in the countryside is slower, less stressful, and more connected to nature.
All this leads to deeper feelings about the meaning in one's life, greater contentment, and a feeling of well-being. In addition, it is believed that people who live in rural environments tend to experience deeper connections to their community and neighbors, which contributes to happiness.
A new study from the University of Houston here in Texas blows all those ideas out the window.
Their psychological study finds that Americans living in rural areas tend to be more anxious and depressed, less open-minded, and more neurotic. The study also revealed that people living in the country were no more satisfied with their lives, nor did they derive more purpose or meaning in life.
The study pointed to real problems for rural Americans, including large disparities in access to psychological services. There have many closures of rural hospitals and mental health clinics. All this makes it harder for people in rural areas who need help to find it.
According to one researcher of this study, quoted in the Journal of Personality,
“It will be critical to improve access to psychological services in remote areas and to identify how characteristics and values of rural communities can be leveraged to promote positive psychological health,” according to assistant professor of psychology, Olivia Atherton.
We're not psychologists, but we have identified a few reasons why people living in the country might be more stressed.
There's nothing more painful. Ask anyone who lives in the country.
The calamity of having to do work in the yard or field and missing out on all the latest TikTok videos or your matches on FarmersOnly.com.
koya79
Photo:
SebastianKnight
You want to eat your cold french fries in peace, not pay extra penalties when the delivery driver steps in a fresh cow pattie.
Liliya Drifan
Photo:
GeorgeRudy
If you think eggs are expensive, try paying for a surveillance system on a henhouse. There's nothing worse than your "Egg Alarm" going off in the middle of the night.
It's not fair your cousin in Houston has a state-certified "support pig."
There's no one around; what could go wrong?
Feel free to add some of your own.
