Life & work · 2026 survey
Young Men Priority
Thinking about your own life right now, which one of the following is the most important thing for you to get right?
21% of young men say earning enough to cover their costs is the most important thing to get right, ahead of mental health at 17%.
Topline, all respondents
- Earning enough to cover my costs20.8%
- My mental health16.9%
- My physical health13.7%
- Affording a place of my own11.5%
- Finding or keeping career-track work8.9%
- Faith or a sense of purpose7.7%
- Friendships and community6.1%
- Paying down student loans or other debt5%
- Finding a long-term relationship4.7%
- Unsure4.8%
Most common answer
Earning enough to cover my costs
Share
20.8%
Respondents
800 registered voters, men aged 18 to 30
The numbers
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Earning enough to cover my costs | 20.8 |
| My mental health | 16.9 |
| My physical health | 13.7 |
| Affording a place of my own | 11.5 |
| Finding or keeping career-track work | 8.9 |
| Faith or a sense of purpose | 7.7 |
| Friendships and community | 6.1 |
| Paying down student loans or other debt | 5.0 |
| Finding a long-term relationship | 4.7 |
| Unsure | 4.8 |
Embed
<iframe src="https://youngamericanmen.com/embed/2026/young-men-priority" title="Young Men Priority, Young American Men Survey 2026" width="100%" height="480" style="border:0;max-width:48rem" loading="lazy"></iframe>
Citation
The Lafayette Company, Young American Men Survey 2026, “Thinking about your own life right now, which one of the following is the most important thing for you to get right?”. 800 registered voters, men aged 18 to 30, fielded by Cygnal, September 15–18, 2026, margin of error ±3.46%. youngamericanmen.com/data/2026/young-men-priority
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