Survey reveals generational trends in men’s health habits

New data from Cleveland Clinic’s MENtion It survey reveals trends in men’s health habits and priorities across generations.¹

One quarter of men with an average risk of prostate cancer (aged 50 or older) reported that they have not been screened or are not sure if they’ve been screened for the disease.

Overall, 95% of male respondents indicated that living a healthy lifestyle was their top priority, and 87% of men reported concern over how their health habits with affect their health in the future. However, nearly 2 out of 5 men from Gen Z (birth year, 1997-2005) reported that they did not have an established primary care provider.

“We saw in the survey that men are concerned with how the health decisions they make now will affect them in the future,” said Petar Bajic, MD, a urologist and the director of the Center for Men’s Health at Cleveland Clinic, in a news release on the findings.¹ "Health risks related to age and family history make the relationship with a primary care provider essential, even for younger men.”

Many men from Gen Z also indicated that they’ve never or are not sure if they’ve ever had their blood pressure, cholesterol, or body mass index/weight checked.

“Monitoring key indicators in men like blood pressure and cholesterol in addition to sexual health concerns is crucial because we know that these can often signal a larger underlying health condition,” added Bajic in the news release.¹

However, data from the survey suggest that stigma associated with sexual health concerns persists, which may prevent men from seeking care. Overall, two thirds of men indicated that experiencing a sexual performance issue makes them feel like less of a man.

“Some men out there might not know that cardiovascular disease is actually the most common cause for erectile dysfunction,” Bajic explained in a separate news release.² “So, there’s a big tie between overall health issues and sexual health. They shouldn’t be ashamed if there’s a problem. They should think of this as a symptom that could be something more serious that’s going on.”

Data from the survey also showed that 74% of men fear getting cancer. However, one quarter of men with an average risk of prostate cancer (aged 50 or older) reported that they have not been screened or are not sure if they’ve been screened for the disease.

The study also highlighted generational differences in the health habits of men. For example, 61% of Gen X and Boomers indicated that they get a yearly physical, compared with only 32% of Millennials and Gen Z men. Additionally, 60% of Gen X and Boomer men indicated that they avoid smoking/vaping vs 43% of Millennials and Gen Z men. Fifty-three percent of Gen X and Boomers reported that they are likely to address mental health concerns compared with 59% of Millennials and Gen Z men.

When asked about where they turn to for health information, all generations reported that health care providers are their top source for information and advice. However, 33% of men in Gen Z reported turning to social media for health care information, compared with only 5% of Boomers.

In total, the survey collected responses from 1000 American men aged 18 and older between June 12 and June 25, 2024. Respondents consisted of men from the Boomer generation (birth year, 1964 and earlier), Generation X (birth year, 1965-1980), the Millennial generation (birth year, 1981-1996), and Generation Z (birth year, 1997-2005).

The total sample population was representative of the US national population based on age, region, urban/rural residence, ethnicity, race, income, and education level, according to national census data.

References

1. National Cleveland Clinic survey examines generational divide in men's health. News release. Cleveland Clinic. September 4, 2024. Accessed September 5, 2024. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/09/04/national-cleveland-clinic-survey-examines-generational-divide-in-mens-health

2. Survey shows how age impacts men's health concerns PKG. News release. Cleveland Clinic. September 4, 2024. Accessed September 5, 2024. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/09/04/survey-shows-how-age-impacts-mens-health-concerns-pkg