Utahns are happy — study says so

Never mind the anti-depressant drugs. A recent study suggests that the saddened at heart should consider moving to Utah for a happiness boost.

Running at nearly 70 points on a well-being scale out of a possible 100, Utah hit the top of the charts according to a study by University of Cambridge researcher Jason Rentfrow. Researchers interviewed more than 350,000 individuals, discovering that states with high productivity, standard of living, income and median housing value were "significantly happier than poorer areas." And that happier states tended to have residents with advanced educations, especially architecture, engineering, computer and arts and design work.

However, researchers warned that Utah's conservative leanings may be affecting the state's high rating, explaining that previous studies have indicated that right-leaning individuals tend to seem happier than others.

The study will be published in the December issue of the Journal of Research in Personality.

— Lana Groves