More young men look up to Obama than a religious leader and 12% have been incarcerated — what explains the massive male malaise?

The common narrative about the troubles facing young men goes like this: A growing number are failing in school, not working or studying, not dating or forming families and not leaving their childhood bedrooms. They are checked out from social life. Their mental health is poor, their habits are bad — video games, pornography, gambling — and their views are extremist. What happened to America’s men? My peers and I at the Institute of Family Studies surveyed 2,000 young men to hear what they have to say. Our results show a substantial number of young men are struggling mightily. That should worry everyone. A chart shows the percentage of men diagnosed with or being treated for various mental illnesses in August 2026. (Institute for Family Studies) Institute for Family Studies Three common ex