Maine Named One of the ‘Saddest’ States in America

What does it mean to be "sad"? According to Verywell Mind, it's an emotional state that is characterized by feelings of unhappiness that lead to a low mood. It is ultimately a basic human emotion but one that can consume based on a number of factors.

Those factors are often out of an individual's full control. They can range from environmental factors to financial factors to societal factors. In Maine, many of the factors that can cause extreme sadness are plentiful whether people notice them or not.

Travel A Lot Declares Maine as One of the 'Saddest' States in America

Travel A Lot released a list of the '25 Saddest States in America' that featured Maine. Travel A Lot compiled a series of data points that suggests people throughout the Pine Tree State are battling a number of factors that lead to a general sense of unhappiness.

The key factor? Affordability. Maine ranks near the bottom of the nation in affordability. Between wages being lower couple with higher costs in rent, energy and groceries, many people struggle with a sense of sorrow based on their financial status.

Quality of Life Was Another Key Factor in Maine's 'Sadness'

Financial woes can lead to a lower quality of life but a couple of other key factors played into Maine's level of "sadness" according to Travel A Lot. Since Maine is such a large state geographically with an older population, there tends to be some significant social isolation issues. 

It's not just social isolation, either. Access to medical and dental care can be challenging in rural areas. In urban areas, the medical and dental care system can be overwhelmed leading to difficulty getting appointments and additional frustration. All of that downgrades the quality of life in Maine.

Check out the entire Travel A Lot list of the 25 "Saddest" States in America here.