Survey of Men’s Confidence Exposes Huge Generational Disparities and Midlife Confidence Cliff
- Written by Man of Many
Man of Many launches Male Confidence Index reveals Gen Z most confident, evidence of midlife confidence cliff and notable disparities in definitions of masculinity between men and women
Young Australian men are leading a generational shift in emotional openness, with Gen Z men 20% more likely to show vulnerability and significantly more comfortable expressing their identity without fear of judgement than Gen X, according to the inaugural Male Confidence Index from Man of Many.
The study, in partnership with research agency Fifth Quadrant, surveyed 2001 Australians aged 18-64 about their confidence in five key areas, establishing a national baseline score of 63/100. But beneath this average sits a stark generational curve: Gen Z men score 66/100, declining steadily through Millennials (64/100) to reach a midlife low among Gen X (60/100), before edging up among Baby Boomers (61/100).
"Confidence shapes how men show up as partners, fathers, colleagues and friends - yet we've never had a national measure of it," says Frank Arthur, Co-Founder of Man of Many. "This Index fills that gap. By tracking confidence annually, we can measure whether our conversations about men's wellbeing are actually translating into stronger families, healthier workplaces and more connected communities. It's a barometer for society, not just individual men."
Key findings:
- Gen Z men 13% more likely to show vulnerability (51%) than Gen X (38%);
- 61% of younger men could express emotions openly with their fathers vs 30% of Gen X; ● Confidence drops to a midlife low of 60/100 for Gen X, down from 66/100 for Gen Z; ● 62% of Gen Z report anxiety affecting confidence in everyday situations despite the highest overall scores;
- 83% of women say men feel pressure to hide struggles; just 62% describe partners as highly confident;
- 78% of Gen Z say male influencers promote unrealistic expectations.
The confidence of youth, or a fatherhood factor?
The Index shows younger Australian men are blazing a trail in emotional openness and adaptability. Gen Z men report the highest overall confidence (66/100) and are reshaping what strength looks like - 51% feel comfortable showing vulnerability, 60% can express their identity without fear of judgment, and 51% speak openly about issues affecting men. These figures are significantly higher than older generations.
The research shows 61% of Gen Z men say they felt able to express emotions openly with their fathers growing up, compared to just 30% of Gen X men, suggesting a broader change in how confidence, care and connection are being shaped in everyday life. Similarly, 64% of Gen Z said their upbringing positively shaped their confidence, compared to 51% of Gen X.
"What we're seeing is a generation of young men who are more emotionally articulate and comfortable with authenticity than any generation before them," says Arthur. "We're also seeing evidence that early experiences of fatherhood are echoing into adulthood, with a more open and emotionally available parenting style from many Gen X fathers directly shaping how confident men feel today."
Midlife shows a crisis in confidence, but opportunities for renewal
The Index identifies midlife as a key transition point where confidence dips across several domains, with Gen X men reporting an overall confidence score of 60/100. However, this pattern is followed by a slight recovery among older men (Boomers at 61/100), suggesting midlife challenges are navigable with the right support.
Men in their 40s and 50s report lower confidence in showing vulnerability (38%) and expressing identity without judgment (50%), yet they maintain strong purpose and direction. This points to an opportunity to reframe midlife not as decline, but as a stage where experience can be channelled into renewal.
Scott Purcell, Co-Founder of Man of Many, adds: “The Index shows this isn't about failure, it's about navigating a life stage where responsibilities peak and expectations shift. There's a real opportunity here for workplaces, health services and communities to create dialogue around this dip and help to push an alternative narrative of recalibration that is less isolating and more supportive."
Women see pressure that men don't always acknowledge
The survey also canvassed the perspectives of more than 500 women about the men closest to them, revealing important insights about how men's confidence is perceived in everyday life. While 92% of women in heterosexual relationships say confidence matters in a partner, only 62% describe their partner as very or extremely confident.
Women respondents also indicate that 83% believe men feel pressure to appear in control even when struggling, and 82% say men often deal with anxiety without showing it openly. This points to an opportunity for more open conversations between partners, families and friends about wellbeing and support.
Masculinity through the eyes of men and women: a widening gap
The Index reveals a striking disconnect in how men and women describe masculinity. Women are significantly more likely than men to define masculinity in terms of vulnerability (20%, compared 7% of men) and empathy (28%, compared to 17% of men), while men are far more likely to identify strength as its defining trait (29% of men and only 18% of women). These differences represent the largest gaps in how masculinity is perceived across the measures tested.
The pros and cons of social media on male confidence
While Gen Z men lead in overall confidence, their digital lives present a more complex picture.
Thirty-seven per cent spend over two hours daily on social media, and 55% of these heavy users say it boosts their day-to-day confidence. However, these same users are significantly more likely to compare themselves to others (66% vs 47% of light users), feel body image insecurity (58% vs 72%) and worry about being 'cancelled' (55% vs 48%).
Heavy social media users also report lower confidence in managing emotions (49% vs 68%), recovering from setbacks (52% vs 68%) and asking for help when needed (47% vs 56%), suggesting digital confidence doesn't extend evenly across all areas of wellbeing.
The research shows 78% of Gen Z men agree that some male influencers promote unrealistic expectations, with creators and influencers (53%) cited more often than any other source as shaping how younger men think about masculinity.
Arthur adds: “The research indicates that confidence is reinforced through depth, trust, and shared experience - qualities more reliably built through in-person interaction.
“This isn’t about rejecting digital spaces, but recognising their limits and complementing them with offline connection. Creating environments beyond the feed where men can show up without constant visibility allows confidence to be built through belonging, not comparison.”
Anxiety hits younger men hardest despite higher confidence
Despite reporting the highest overall confidence, Gen Z and Millennial men also report the highest levels of anxiety affecting their day-to-day lives. Sixty-two per cent of Gen Z men say feelings of anxiety regularly affect their confidence in everyday situations, compared to 39% of Baby Boomers.
The Index also reveals different coping patterns across generations. Nearly half of Gen Z men (48%) report using recreational drugs to manage stress and difficult emotions, compared with 38% of men overall, while Millennials are more likely to turn to alcohol (49%)
Turning challenges into opportunities: pathways to strengthen confidence
Based on the findings, Man of Many has identified 10 key opportunities for supporting men's confidence: ● Opportunity 1: Break the Silence and Normalise Confidence Change
- Opportunity 2: Reframe Midlife as Renewal, Not Crisis
- Opportunity 3: Expand What Strength Means for Gen Z Men
- Opportunity 4: Build Financial Confidence in a Climate of Pressure
- Opportunity 5: Build Confidence and Connection Beyond the Feed
- Opportunity 6: Celebrate Soft Strengths in Fatherhood
- Opportunity 7: Elevate Gen X Role Models for a New Kind of Strength
- Opportunity 8: Empower Diverse and Personally Defined Masculinity
- Opportunity 9: Treat Support as Maintenance, Not Crisis
- Opportunity 10: Bring Women’s Perspectives into Men’s Confidence
These are explored in greater depth in the Summary Report and Full Report.
Purcell says, "This study explores how Australian men are thriving and where they need more support. Each generation's life experience varies greatly. We must build on existing progress while addressing areas that need attention.”
“Confidence grows through connection, purpose, and environments that allow men to be their best selves - for their families, friends, colleagues, and communities.”
The full Male Confidence Index 2025 report is available HERE.
