Survey Results

Here are the TENTATIVE results of the survey. Items showing a 4% or more change (since our last survey) are highlighted in red. This is not a scientific survey — it is biased in favor of 
church-going men, our target audience (note the per cent saying they regularly attend church).
Men in Balance Survey Results
% answering
agree or
strongly agree
Work

I tend to work more hours than my job requires.
52%
I work more than 40 hours a week because my job requires it.
59%
I am able to control my work hours and generally work 40 hours a week or less.
32%
My work causes me to miss family events.
39%
I get a great deal of satisfaction from my work even though it requires long hours.
67%
The primary reason I work hard is to maintain or improve our standard of living.
69%
I feel a great deal of pressure to provide well for my family.
65%
I have a strong sense of identity with my job.
76%
I have had conflicts with my spouse over the number of hours I work.
37%
I sometimes bring the frustrations of work home with me.
68%
I am able to forget about work once I am home with my family.
54%
My partner understands the work commitments required of me and is supportive.
71%
I would rather work fewer hours and make less money.
22%
I sometimes get so absorbed in my work I forget about the time.
60%
I have received promotions which required a substantially larger amount of my time.
33%
I am able to go on vacation or weekend trips and forget about work.
67%
I tend to check my voicemail or email when I am with my family.
59%
I am aware that work takes time away from my family but I don't feel I have a
choice.
50%
I have turned down promotions in order to have more time with my family.
23%
If I am honest with myself, I am a workaholic.
26%
My work and personal life are in balance, more or less.
68%
I have no real hobbies which occupy my time.
31%
I feel a lot of pressure to increase my family's standard of living.
46%
I have no one I can really talk to about work demands.
32%
I miss being able to take more time with my family.
45%
Frequently I am too tired to really enjoy downtime or family time.
49%


Connection

I have no close male friends with whom I can talk openly about personal issues.
38%
I sometimes feel isolated about my personal life.
54%
I can talk openly with my partner about almost everything.
71%
My partner understands me and is supportive.
81%
I would like to be in a small group of men with whom I could share my thoughts and
feelings.
55%
I would like to be more able to open up and talk with other men about personal
issues.
66%
Most people would probably say I am a "private" person and do not talk much about
personal issues.
59%
I have 5 or more "good friends" with whom I can be myself.
58%


Communication

My partner and I communicate well with few problems.
62%
My partner would like me to talk more.
59%
I do not enjoy talking to my partner about our relationship.
28%
I have concerns about my marriage/relationship I have not shared with my partner.
32%
I can sense when my partner has a concern and invite a discussion.
80%
There are a number of issues my partner and I simply cannot discuss.
31%
My partner does not understand the many pressures I am under.
37%
I enjoy "quiet communion time" with my partner.
75%
My partner and I talk at least a few minutes each day about things other than
"logistics and schedules".
72%
I do not have problems communicating at work, but I do at home.
28%
I am difficult to communicate with at home.
20%
I sometimes do not treat my partner very well.
46%
I tend to avoid conflict in close relationships.
62%
My partner and I can discuss differences calmly and come to agreement.
72%
My partner and I are in agreement about most family issues.
76%

Personal Intimacy

My partner and I have a rewarding, close relationship.
70%
I wish my partner were more supportive of me.
33%
I have a satisfying sex life with my partner.
54%
I consider my partner to also be a best friend with whom I can talk freely.
81%
I have lost the enthusiasm for my relationship with my partner.
17%
I would like to be able to open up more with my partner.
54%
My partner has suggested counseling but I have resisted.
5%
I enjoy sex and rarely, if ever, have difficulty in this area.
65%
I have never had an affair or cheated on my partner.
75%
I would like more conversation with my partner.
61%
I don't feel I know how to have a productive conversation with my partner on
sensitive issues.
34%
I sometimes am critical of my partner around others.
24%
I would like more sex from my partner.
62%
I almost never miss family activities and I am fully present when participating.
76%

Family life

Our family typically has at least one meal together.
74%
My children openly share their feelings and concerns.
58%
I can be a "best friend" to my children and listen without offering advice or
judgment.
62%
Our family frequently does things together (other than meals).
82%
I am disappointed in the amount of together time in my family.
41%
My children would say I am very involved in their lives.
71%
My children are involved in church activities other than worship.
47%
I make sure my children are in church almost every week.
43%
Our family has regular devotions or prayer.
41%
I am viewed by my family as a strong spiritual leader.
49%
My children enjoy family time together.
80%
My partner and I are in agreement about issues involving children including
discipline.
63%
I wish I could communicate better with my children.
48%
My children would say I criticize them a lot.
19%
My family members talk openly about issues that are bothering them.
66%

Spiritual

My spiritual life is satisfying.
70%
I have a strong faith relationship with God.
75%
I pray regularly (at least weekly).
81%
I am involved in at least one organization that helps others.
77%
I attend church/worship regularly.
73%
I am actively involved in some church activity other than attending worship.
67%
I usually make time for regular church attendance.
72%

Personal

I do not have a problem with drugs (including alcohol), pornography, or womanizing.
76%
I have no serious "dark side" that I would never want exposed.
71%
I have friends who trust me to listen without judgment when they are having
problems.
86%
I am comfortable talking with other men about my personal life, beliefs.
74%
I have made serious attempts to work on my own "issues" through counseling or
self-study.
78%
I believe men should be able to handle problems on their own without resorting to
counseling or coaching.
23%
I feel I have some unfinished business with my father (living or dead).
39%
My father provided an excellent role model for my life.
53%
My father was absent (emotionally or physically) or critical of me.
53%
I take good care of my health and have regular check-ups.
83%