How pressure to provide impacts modern men

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

FINANCIAL PRESSURE MAY BE TAKING A BIGGER TOLL ON MEN THAN MANY REALIZE.

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 MEN FROM BEYOND FINANCE FINDS MORE THAN HALF SAY MONEY STRUGGLES HAVE MADE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY’VE FALLEN SHORT OF ‘BEING A MAN.’

MANY SAY THEY GREW UP BELIEVING A MAN’S PRIMARY ROLE IS TO BE THE FINANCIAL PROVIDER, BUT MOST ALSO BELIEVE THAT JOB IS HARDER TODAY THAN IT WAS FOR THEIR PARENTS’ GENERATION.

THE RESEARCH ALSO FOUND MANY MEN FEEL EXPECTED TO HANDLE FINANCIAL STRESS SILENTLY, WITH MORE THAN HALF ADMITTING THEY’VE KEPT MONEY WORRIES TO THEMSELVES IN THE PAST.

THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, FOUND MEN ARE INCREASINGLY DEFINING SUCCESS LESS BY INCOME AND MORE BY THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, RELATIONSHIPS AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE. 

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU? HAS THE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS CHANGED OVER TIME? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

2026 Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 men evenly split by generation who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Beyond Finance and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between May 8 and May 14, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.

2025 Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 men who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Beyond Finance and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between May 20 and May 27, 2025. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.