Cleveland Clinic survey examines the current state of men’s health in America

A new national survey by Cleveland Clinic highlights a disconnect between men’s perception of their health and their actual health habits.

In the survey, 81% of American men said they believe they are leading a healthy lifestyle. However, the survey results show the habits and behaviors of many men tell a different story.

• Almost half of men (44%) do not get a yearly physical
• 44% do not take care of their mental health
• Only half of men said they keep a healthy diet (51%)
• 83% have experienced stress in the last six months
• About a quarter of U.S. men (27%) watch TV for more than five hours per day on average

“The first signs of many serious health conditions are often urinary or sexual issues which many men are hesitant to address,” said Georges-Pascal Haber, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Urology at Cleveland Clinic.

The survey, which was taken earlier this year by a national sample consisting of 1000 US males, 18 years of age and older, was issued as part of Cleveland Clinic’s eighth annual educational campaign, MENtion It®. The campaign aims to address the fact that men often do not mention health issues or take steps to prevent them.

Survey findings point to stress being a common factor among men. However, 65% of men said they are hesitant to seek professional help for mental health concerns such as stress, anxiety and depression.

Social media habits may contribute to this with men saying they spend 2.3 hours per day on average scrolling through social media. Those who say they are hesitant to seek professional help for mental health issues are almost twice as likely to spend five or more hours daily on social media (19%).

The survey also indicates that a significant portion of American men (37%) have experienced issues related to sexual health. Despite experiencing issues, only two in five men who experienced sexual problems say they sought professional help.

“We know that there is a direct relationship between a man’s physical, mental and sexual health,” said Georges-Pascal Haber, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Urology at Cleveland Clinic. “A man’s lifestyle and habits, whether positive or negative, can significantly impact his overall health.

“The first signs of many serious health conditions are often urinary or sexual issues which many men are hesitant to address,” said Haber. “Through the MENtion It campaign, we want to emphasize the significance of being proactive with your health by getting regular screenings, vaccinations and exams to prevent health issues or identify them in curable stages.”

Additional findings:

• 54% of American men are not satisfied with their current weight and 50% declare they are actively working on achieving their goal weight.
• Only about half (56%) of men realize that their drinking habits may affect sexual health, but even less (43%) are aware of the negative impact of smoking.
• Two-thirds (65%) of men who have experienced issues having sex say it made them feel frustrated.
• Money/finances is the No. 1 stress factor affecting men in the U.S., indicated by 37% of respondents.
• Only about half of American men have been screened for common cancers, including prostate, colorectal, skin, testicular and bladder.
• Two-thirds (67%) of men have performed skin self-examination.
• However, 83% of men do not use sunscreen on daily basis.

Methodology

Findings from an online survey conducted among a national sample consisting of 1,000 American males, 18 years of age and older, living in the continental United States completed between June 1st and June 13th in partnership with Savanta.

The total male sample surveyed was nationally representative based on age, gender, ethnicity, region, urban vs. rural, household income, and educational attainment census data. The margin of error for the total sample at the 95% confidence level is +/- 3.1 percentage points.

Media Contact

Hope Buggey 216.213.6192

Katie Ely 216.906.5597

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 77,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,658 salaried physicians and researchers, and 19,000 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,699-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, more than 275 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2022, there were 12.8 million outpatient encounters, 303,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 270,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.