More than half of men report that financial difficulties make them feel they are falling short of societal expectations of masculinity, according to a new survey. The study, conducted by debt consolidation firm Beyond Finance, polled 2,000 adults and found that 57 percent of male respondents said money troubles led them to feel less like a man.
Financial Stress as an Identity Crisis
Nathan Astle, a client financial therapist at Beyond Finance, described the phenomenon as an identity crisis. "Financial stress isn't just a money problem for men ... it's an identity crisis," Astle said in a statement. "For a lot of men, income has become the measuring stick for whether they are succeeding at being a man."
The survey also revealed that approximately 82 percent of men believe society expects them to be the primary earners in their households. However, nearly 70 percent feel it is harder for them to fulfill that role today than it was for their fathers.
Mental Health Impacts and Silence
The perceived pressure has tangible effects on men's mental health. About 43 percent of men feel frustrated about their debt, 32 percent feel overwhelmed, and 24 percent feel hopeless. Many men also believe it is unacceptable to discuss financial struggles, leading to silence. "That silence isn't stoicism," Astle said. "It's suffering, and it's where a lot of the real damage to men's mental health, relationships and sense of self actually happens."
These mental health challenges are compounded by broader economic trends. According to a May 8 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in three American men were either not working or looking for a job in April. This reflects a long-term decline in male workforce participation, which has dropped from 87 percent in 1948 to 68 percent in 2025, according to a study by the American Institute for Boys and Men. The institute noted that part of this decline is due to more men pursuing education instead of working.
The Burden of Breadwinning
For men who do remain in the workforce, the pressure to be the primary breadwinner can take a toll. A 2022 study from the University of Connecticut found that gendered expectations linking masculinity to financial responsibility lead to negative health outcomes. "In general, as men took on more financial responsibility in their marriages, their psychological well-being and health declined," the study noted. "Men’s psychological well-being and health were at their worst during years when they were their families’ sole breadwinner."
The study suggests that separating breadwinning from identity could help reduce the negative impact. Interestingly, women experience improved mental health as they take on greater economic responsibility. "Whereas men’s psychological well-being and health tend to increase as their wives take on more economic responsibility, women’s psychological well-being also improves as they take on more economic responsibility," the study said.
