Staff Reporter

A recent Bankrate/YouGov poll reveals that 43% of American adults consider personal finances the main barrier to their mental health.

This figure shows a slight decrease from the past two years, yet financial stress continues to weigh heavily on many respondents, with money issues occasionally leading to anxiety, depression, and sleepless nights.

Interestingly, Democrats in the survey reported that current events disturb them more than financial worries, while Republicans prioritized money concerns over daily news.

Additionally, those with a college degree are more likely to view current events as a greater worry compared to financial issues than those without a degree.

Among those who feel that money significantly impacts their mental health, inflation emerged as the top concern—69% identified it as their biggest financial worry, up from 65% in a similar poll conducted in 2024.

Respondents citing financial stress also frequently mentioned everyday expenses like groceries or utilities (61%), insufficient emergency savings (57%), and limited discretionary spending funds (46%).

Debt—whether from credit cards, medical bills, or student loans—affected 43%, while housing costs, such as rent or mortgages, troubled 37%. Additionally, 34% expressed concern about retirement preparedness and low investment returns.

Less common worries included unstable income (30%), high interest rates (25%), job security (21%), and the challenges of saving for or affording a home (21%). Financial market volatility and investment losses were cited by 17% of respondents.

The survey found that women were more likely than men to report inflation as a significant issue affecting their mental health (72% vs. 64%). Women also noted a lack of emergency savings more often, while men were more concerned about job security and stable income.

In a positive sign, more individuals are taking steps to assess their financial health: 57% checked their credit card balances or bank accounts, 34% tracked their spending, and 32% reviewed their credit scores.

The survey included 2,363 U.S. adults, with 1,046 reporting that money concerns affect their mental health, while 1,317 did not. This was a nonprobability-based sample.