Just under three-quarters (70%) of UK adults have reported weekly stress primarily due to financial strain, according to research by Cigna Healthcare.
Its Cigna Healthcare international health study 2025, which surveyed more than 11,000 workers in the UK, US, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Kenya, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong SAR, also found that almost half (47%) of respondents across Britain identified persistent price increases as their primary source of stress and financial anxiety. Only three in 10 said they have the freedoms and opportunities to financially support themselves.
Among British respondents who said they are stressed, more than half reported disrupted sleep, while nearly two in five said it has impacted their ability to concentrate on tasks.
Prevalent stress is leading to health challenges, along with uncertainty about the future and personal finance worries, which are causes of stress for 39% and 32% of UK staff, respectively. Compared to the global average, those in the UK reported higher stress impacts.
Dr Stella George, chief medical officer, international health at Cigna Healthcare, said: “This extends beyond typical daily pressures. Experts are increasingly recognising how chronic stress can contribute to a variety of significant, often overlooked health issues, which can lower vitality. The constant flight-or-fight response caused by stress can disrupt sugar regulation and increase blood pressure, suppressing the body’s natural defences. Financial stress isn’t just about debt; it’s manifesting in these surprising physical and mental health symptoms that businesses and individuals are only just beginning to grasp.”
Wendy Sherry, chief executive officer, global health benefits, international health at Cigna Healthcare, added: “This is broader than personal struggle; it’s a societal challenge with considerable implications for our workplaces. When nearly half of the workforce is stressed by the cost of living, the cost of inaction for businesses is immense, in presenteeism, absenteeism, and ultimately, lost talent. Employers must act, recognising that employee vitality, particularly financial wellbeing, is a strategic imperative for business continuity and growth.”
