Study Reveals 41% of Indians Experience Stress Due to Financial Goals, Finds ManipalCigna Research

Financial Stress Takes a Toll on Urban Indians

A recent study by ManipalCigna Health Insurance and YouGov India has highlighted the growing pressure to balance wealth creation with overall well-being among urban Indians. The India Health Quotient 2026 study found that 41 percent of urban Indians experience stress and anxiety due to pursuing financial goals, making money-related concerns a significant factor affecting their health.

The study, which surveyed 2,600 urban Indians across 16 cities, examined well-being across five dimensions: physical, mental, financial, occupational, and social health. The findings indicate that financial well-being emerged as the lowest-scoring dimension, with a score of 62 out of 100, compared to physical health at 68 and social health at 66.

The report describes this trend as a Health Debt Trap, where efforts to improve financial security often come at the expense of physical, mental, and social well-being. The study shows that financial pressures extend beyond savings and investments, with around 36 percent of respondents citing pressure from spending on healthy food, nutritional supplements, and preventive health check-ups.

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The report highlights a cycle of financial stress damaging health, poorer health requiring additional spending on treatment and wellness, and the resulting costs further increasing financial strain. The burden is particularly heavy on younger adults, with urban Indians aged 25 to 34 recording the lowest financial well-being score at 59 out of 100.

The study attributes this to factors such as education loans, lower early-career incomes, and social pressure to keep pace with peers. Women also reported slightly lower financial confidence than men, especially when it came to insurance coverage and managing debt obligations.

The study suggests that while Indians continue to place a high value on financial stability, many feel they are struggling to achieve it. As a result, financial health has become the area people most want to improve, even more than physical or mental health.

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