The Holiday Season Takes a Mental Toll on American Workers, Driven by Money and Work Stressors

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New Modern Health report finds two-thirds of U.S. employees feel pressure to overspend, and 40% consider quitting their jobs due to holiday burnout.

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SAN FRANCISCO — A new survey from Modern Health, a leading global workplace mental health platform, reveals that for many American workers, the holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year, driven by financial stress, work demands, and family obligations.

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Money and Work Are the Leading Holiday Stressors

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In a survey of 1,000 full-time U.S. employees aged 30 to 65, more than half (57%) report that the holidays are the most mentally draining time of year, with financial stress cited as the top source of holiday stress. In fact, two-thirds (66%) of respondents feel pressure to overspend during the holidays — a number that climbs to 77% for the “sandwich generation,” those caring for both children and aging relatives.

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Work demands rank as the second most significant mental health impact, with 57% feeling obligated to check their work emails while on holiday, and the majority (51%) admitting they’ve worked through the season to avoid family conflict or stress. After the holidays, 57% struggle to re-engage with work, and 40% have considered quitting their jobs due to seasonal burnout or dread about returning to work. Despite these pressures, 57% say their employer doesn’t recognize the emotional and financial stress of the holiday season.

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“The holidays are meant to be restorative, but for many employees they’ve become a perfect storm of financial worry, work and family pressure, and emotional strain,” said Dr. Jessica Watrous, Chief Clinical Officer at Modern Health. “While this time of year brings joy for many, it can also bring real stress. Even small acts of flexibility and understanding from employers can help ensure everyone feels supported throughout the season.”

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Family Friction and Loneliness Add to the Strain

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Beyond financial and work pressures, the survey reveals that family dynamics and social expectations can compound the stress. More than half (54%) of employees expect family conflict that will be detrimental to their mental health — a number that rises to 66% for parents and 71% for the sandwich generation.

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The holiday season can also feel isolating: 52% report feeling lonelier or more isolated than usual during the holidays, and nearly two-thirds say they feel pressure to appear happy or be “in the holiday spirit” even when they’re not. More than half (53%) say the expectation to be “grateful” or “festive” actually worsens their mental health.

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Modern Health’s recent findings echo its previous peer-reviewed research that found that almost 60% of members were exhibiting signs of loneliness before starting care. These findings also highlight a critical opportunity for organizations to provide proactive support — from financial-wellness resources to flexibility to accessible mental health care that address a range of concerns including loneliness for employees and their families.

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“Employers can’t eliminate holiday stress,” Watrous added, “but they can support employees in navigating it by creating environments where people feel understood, supported, and able to prioritize their well-being during one of the most emotionally loaded times of the year.”

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About Modern Health

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Modern Health is a global leader in adaptive mental health care, dynamically offering multi-modal mental health support that delivers meaningful outcomes at a sustainable, predictable cost. With therapy, psychiatry, coaching, community groups, self-guided tools, and crisis support, we dynamically create individualized care journeys to address a spectrum of mental health needs and preferences with culturally responsive providers in 200+ countries and territories and 80+ languages. Backed by peer-reviewed research and a proprietary blend of technology and live support, Modern Health delivers measurable outcomes, globally equitable access, and sustainable pricing. Our industry-leading Adaptive Care Model and dedicated, human-centered, operationally tuned customer success partners make us a trusted partner for organizations worldwide.

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Visit us at http://modernhealth.com to learn how we can help you optimize your people and your business.

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Methodology

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Modern Health commissioned this scientific random sample of 1,000 full-time U.S. employees aged 30–65. This group was surveyed on October 21, 2025. All respondents are currently employed for wages, confirmed by consumer-matched data. Sampling was calibrated to obtain a representative demographic sample aligned with U.S. workforce statistics. DKC Analytics conducted and analyzed this survey with a sample procured using the Pollfish survey delivery platform, which delivers online surveys globally through mobile apps and the mobile web along with the desktop web. No post-stratification has been applied to the results.

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