Women in the U.S. — particularly younger women — are finding it tough to make their own health a top priority. More than six in 10 U.S. women (63%) say it is hard for them to do this. Majorities cite feeling overwhelmed, their mental or emotional health, caring for others before themselves, and work as the top barriers getting in the way. These findings are from a Hologic-Gallup survey of the state of women’s health conducted April 8-16, 2024, with 4,001 adult women across the U.S. via web using the probability-based Gallup Panel.
Younger generations of adult women in the U.S. are much more likely than baby boomers and the Silent Generation to agree it feels too overwhelming to make their health a top priority. Adult Gen Zers and millennials are more likely than their older counterparts to report that they don’t have enough time, they don’t have enough money, and their work gets in the way as challenges preventing them from making their health a top priority.
Although many women are aiming to make their mental health a high priority, previous Gallup research shows that this group experiences worse mental and emotional wellbeing than men and older Americans. Suffering from poor mental and emotional health on their own negatively affects women’s lives. The Hologic-Gallup study finds that mental health issues are also preventing women from taking care of their health broadly, with 60% saying it is a barrier to making their health a top priority.
Women facing barriers to prioritizing their health while they are young could suffer from significant long-term effects. Taking care of one’s health early can be key to ensuring stable health and wellbeing later in life.
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