New research reveals 41% of young Australian men (Gen Z and Millennials) say they're too busy to visit a doctor for minor health issues, equating to approximately 2 million people.
This is more than double the rate of older men (17%). The findings highlight a worrying trend of younger men putting off medical care due to busy lifestyles and competing priorities.
The research found Gen Z men are more likely to avoid seeing a doctor for non-critical issues (85%), followed by Millennials (64%). This is compared to just 59% of Gen X and 40% of Baby Boomers who said the same.
This means more than four in five young Australians are routinely putting off medical care, a trend that makes this year's Movember campaign more critical than ever.
Reasons younger men don't see a doctor
The reasons for young men avoiding medical consultations are varied, with the following statistics highlighting their concerns:
I feel too busy and hope the problem will just go away on its own: 41%
I don't want to make a fuss or be seen as a complainer: 15%
I feel embarrassed or uncomfortable discussing personal health issues: 10%
I am worried about what the doctor might find: 3%
Gender divide: Fear vs. time
Among young Australians (Gen Z and Millennials), women are twice as likely as men to avoid doctors due to fear of diagnoses combined with discomfort discussing health concerns (26% vs 13%). In contrast, younger men cite time constraints as their defining barrier, being 7% more likely than young women to say they're too busy and hope problems resolve independently.
