Gallup and Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY) today released findings from the monthly Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index® (WBI) for December 2011. For the first time in four years, Americans felt less stressed and sad during the holiday season, according to the Emotional Health Index (EHI), which, at 79.2, didn't dip to its typical yearly low in December. Previously, the EHI score had decreased during December to 77.5 in 2008 and 78.7 in both 2009 and 2010.

Mirroring job gains in the economy, last month's increase in emotional health was influenced by Americans experiencing less stress in December with 59.7 percent of respondents reporting to be without "stress a lot of the day yesterday." Americans also reported less sadness in December with 81.7 percent of respondents reporting to be without "sadness a lot of the day yesterday," compared to 79.9 percent in 2008, 80.6 percent in 2009 and 80.4 percent in 2010.

The WBI composite score remained unchanged at 65.8, the fourth month in a row under 66.0 after 28 successive months above this threshold.

Other findings:

  • The Life Evaluation Index improved for the second month in a row to 48.4 in December from 47.7 in November, with 51.9 percent of Americans reporting they were thriving, a six-month high. In addition, respondents that were suffering dropped to 3.5 percent, the lowest since June.
  • The Basic Access Index remained low in December, with a score of 81.8, similar to the record lows found in September (81.4), October (81.2) and November (81.7). The 80.8 percent of Americans who reported having enough money to buy food at all times in the last 12 months is among the lowest Gallup and Healthways have found since 2008.
  • The Healthy Behavior Index dropped 1.6 points to 61.0, with an increase in the percentage of smokers to 21.7 percent, the highest since May 2009. In addition, for the second month in a row, there was a decline in the percentage (47.4) of Americans exercising 30 minutes or more at least three days in the last week.
  • The Physical Health Index score was unchanged in December at 76.6, a typical score for the month. Obesity remained at 26.6 percent reflecting a leveling off in the nation's obesity and diabetes rates.
  • The Work Environment Index remained low at 47.7 in December and has not improved since September 2009. In the last 11 months, the Work Environment Index experienced its 10 lowest months of measurement.

To download the full December report, click here.

For more on the science and methodology behind the WBI, please visit www.well-beingindex.com.

About Healthways

Healthways is the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive solutions to help millions of people maintain or improve their health and well-being and, as a result, reduce overall costs. Healthways' solutions are designed to keep healthy people healthy, reduce health-related risks and optimize care for those with chronic illness. Our proven, evidence-based programs provide highly specific and personalized interventions for each individual in a population, irrespective of age or health status, and are delivered to consumers by phone, mail, Internet and face-to-face interactions, both domestically and internationally. Healthways also provides a national, fully accredited complementary and alternative Health Provider Network and a national Fitness Center Network, offering convenient access to individuals who seek health services outside of, and in conjunction with, the traditional health care system. For more information, please visit http://www.healthways.com.

Healthways
Kelly Motley, 615-614-4984
kelly.motley@healthways.com
or
Gallup
Lauren Kannry, 202-715-3050
lauren_kannry@gallup.com